Shloka 12
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
आनुृ्शंस्यं परो धर्म: क्षमा च परमं बलम् | आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं न सत्याद् विद्यते परम्,क्रूर स्वभावका परित्याग सबसे बड़ा धर्म है। क्षमा सबसे बड़ा बल है। आत्माका ज्ञान ही सबसे उत्तकृष्ट ज्ञान है और सत्यसे बढ़कर तो कुछ है ही नहीं
Ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmaḥ kṣamā ca paramaṁ balam | ātmajñānaṁ paraṁ jñānaṁ na satyād vidyate param ||
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मः क्षमा च परमं बलम् । आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं न सत्याद् विद्यते परम् ॥
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks key virtues: compassion/non-cruelty as the highest dharma, forgiveness as the greatest strength, Self-knowledge as the highest knowledge, and truth as the unsurpassed foundation of all virtues.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Nārada delivers a concise ethical and spiritual summary, emphasizing inner virtues and truth as guiding principles for righteous living after the devastation of war.