Shloka 24
अध्याय ३३७ — ज्ञानमार्ग-वैविध्यप्रश्नः तथा व्यासस्य नारायणोद्भवकथा
Systems of Knowledge and Vyāsa’s Nārāyaṇa-Origin
कथं पश्येम हि वयं देव॑ नारायणात्मकम् । वरेण्यं वरदं तं वै देवदेवं सनातनम्
kathaṁ paśyema hi vayaṁ deva nārāyaṇātmakam | vareṇyaṁ varadaṁ taṁ vai devadevaṁ sanātanam ||
ஓ தேவா! நாராயணத் தன்மையுடைய, வரம் அருளும், தேர்ந்தெடுக்கத் தக்க, சனாதன தேவாதிதேவனை நாங்கள் எவ்வாறு தரிசிக்க முடியும்?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames spiritual aspiration as an ethical longing for direct realization of the supreme—Nārāyaṇa, the eternal God of gods—emphasizing humility (“how could we behold?”) and devotion to the boon-giving Lord rather than worldly gain.
Bhīṣma speaks in a reflective, devotional tone, asking how they might obtain the vision of Nārāyaṇa, described with exalted epithets (worthy of choice, giver of boons, eternal God of gods), in the context of recalling severe austerities performed to gain divine darśana.