Shloka 20
Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)
नारायणे त्वेकमना वसामि सर्वेण भावेन शरीरभूता । तस्मिन् हि धर्म: सुमहान् निविष्टो ब्रह्मण्यता चात्र तथा प्रियत्वम्
nārāyaṇe tv ekamanā vasāmi sarveṇa bhāvena śarīrabhūtā | tasmin hi dharmaḥ sumahān niviṣṭo brahmaṇyatā cātra tathā priyatvam ||
நான் ஒருமனத்துடன், முழு உள்ளத்தாலும்—உடலெடுத்தவள்போல்—நாராயணனிடமே வாசம் செய்கிறேன்; ஏனெனில் அவரிடமே மகாதர்மம் உறுதியாக நிலைபெற்றுள்ளது; அங்கேயே பிராமண்யமும், இனிமையான நெருக்கமும் (பிரியத்துவமும்) குடிகொள்கின்றன।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that the highest ethical grounding (mahān dharma) is rooted in Nārāyaṇa: single-minded devotion and total inner alignment with the divine supports righteousness, reverence for sacred tradition (brahmaṇyatā), and a loving intimacy with the ultimate refuge.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma speaks as a teacher of Dharma. Here he declares his own unwavering orientation toward Nārāyaṇa and identifies Nārāyaṇa as the seat of great Dharma, sacred piety, and belovedness—framing devotion as an ethical foundation.