Shloka 8
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
नरनारायणावेतौ लोकाल्लोकं समास्थितौ । ऊर्जितौ स्वेन तपसा महासत्त्वपराक्रमौ
naranārāyaṇāv etau lokāl lokaṃ samāsthitau | ūrjitau svena tapasā mahāsattvaparākramau ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Estes dois — Nara e Nārāyaṇa — passaram de um mundo a outro, avançando para além do alcance comum dos seres. Fortalecidos por sua própria austeridade, resplandecem com imenso poder espiritual e vigor heroico. Pela força do seu tapas, elevaram-se do reino terreno ao mundo de Brahmā, radiantes de fogo interior e de fulgor.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas (disciplined austerity) as a transformative spiritual force: inner restraint and sustained practice generate tejas (radiance) and elevate one’s state of being, symbolized by moving from one loka to a higher loka.
Vaiśampāyana describes the extraordinary stature of the twin sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa: empowered by their own austerities, they transcend ordinary realms and are portrayed as reaching a higher world (understood in context as Brahmaloka), shining with great spiritual and heroic potency.