Shloka 8
Nāga–Nāgabhāryā Saṃvāda: Varṇa-Dharma, Gṛhastha-Discipline, and Mokṣa-Self-Inquiry
Mahābhārata 12.347
साधो! मैं पहले नारायणकी आराधनाका कार्य पूर्ण कर लेनेपर पितरोंका पूजन करता हूँ। इस प्रकार वे भगवान् नारायण ही मेरे पिता, माता और पितामह हैं ।।
nārada uvāca | sādho! ahaṃ pūrvaṃ nārāyaṇasyārādhanā-kāryaṃ paripūrya tataḥ pitr̥ṇāṃ pūjanaṃ karomi | evaṃ sa bhagavān nārāyaṇa eva me pitā mātā pitāmahaś ca || ijyate pitr̥yajñeṣu tathā nityaṃ jagatpatiḥ | śrutiś cāparā devī—putrān anu hi pitaro ’yajan ||
Nārada disse: “Ó virtuoso, primeiro eu concluo a adoração a Nārāyaṇa, e só então realizo os ritos de honra aos ancestrais (Pitṛs). Assim, esse mesmo Senhor Nārāyaṇa é para mim pai, mãe e avô. De fato, nos sacrifícios aos ancestrais o Senhor do mundo é continuamente adorado; e outro testemunho da śruti declara que os próprios Pais, outrora, realizaram culto de acordo com (a norma de) seus filhos.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Nārada teaches that devotion to Nārāyaṇa is primary and foundational: even ancestral rites (pitṛyajña) are ultimately fulfilled through worship of the Lord, who is regarded as the true source and support of all familial relations and obligations.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and rites, Nārada explains his own practice: he completes worship of Nārāyaṇa first and then performs ancestral honoring, citing śruti to affirm that the Lord is worshipped in pitṛyajñas and that scriptural testimony supports this ordering.