Shloka 296
धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)
ऋते आत्मानमेवेति ततो रुद्रं भजाम्यहम् | विष्णु अपने आत्मस्वरूप रुद्रके सिवा किसी दूसरे देवताको प्रणाम नहीं करते; इसलिये मैं रुद्रका भजन करता हूँ
ṛte ātmānam eveti tato rudraṁ bhajāmy aham |
ऋते आत्मानमेवेति ततो रुद्रं भजाम्यहम्। विष्णुः स्वात्मस्वरूपं रुद्रं ज्ञात्वा नान्यं देवतां प्रणमति; तस्मादहं रुद्रं भजामि॥
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the unity of the divine: Rudra is regarded as identical with the Self, and even Viṣṇu is portrayed as honoring Rudra as his own essential nature. Ethically, it encourages devotion grounded in insight—worship that recognizes the one reality behind divine forms.
Arjuna speaks, declaring his devotion to Rudra. He justifies this by citing a theological principle: Viṣṇu himself does not bow to other gods because Rudra is understood as Viṣṇu’s own Self; therefore Arjuna chooses to worship Rudra.