Shloka 17
एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline
(शान्तनो: कथयामास नारदो मुनिसत्तम: । राज्ञा पृष्ट: पुरा प्राह तत्राहं श्रुतवान् पुरा ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | (śāntanoḥ kathayāmāsa nārado munisattamaḥ | rājñā pṛṣṭaḥ purā prāha tatrāhaṃ śrutavān purā ||) pūrvakāle me pitā mahārājaḥ śāntanuḥ pṛṣṭavān; munisattamaḥ nāradaḥ tasmai etāṃ kathāṃ kathayāmāsa; tadā tatraiva aham api etat śrutavān || rājopacarico nāma babhūvādhipatir bhuvaḥ | ākhaṇḍalasakhaḥ khyāto bhakto nārāyaṇaṃ harim ||
Bhishma disse: “Há muito tempo, quando meu pai, o rei Shantanu, lhe perguntou, o mais eminente dos sábios, Narada, narrou-lhe esta história; e naquele mesmo momento eu também a ouvi ali. Em tempos antigos houve nesta terra um soberano chamado Rajoparichara. Era famoso como amigo de Indra (Akhandala) e como celebrado devoto de Hari Narayana, o removedor do pecado.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage foregrounds the authority of dharmic knowledge transmitted through reliable lineage: a king seeks counsel, a foremost sage narrates, and Bhishma testifies as an eyewitness listener. It also sets an ethical ideal for rulers—worldly power aligned with devotion to Narayana, the remover of sin.
Bhishma introduces a story he heard in the past when Narada spoke to King Shantanu. He then begins the tale by naming an ancient ruler, Rajoparichara, describing him as Indra’s friend and a renowned devotee of Hari Narayana.