Shloka 21
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
ब्रह्मण्यदेवभक्तस्त्वं सुरासुरगुरुहरि:
brahmaṇyadeva-bhaktas tvaṃ surāsura-guru-hariḥ
நீ பிராமண தர்மத்திற்கும் தேவர்களுக்கும் பக்தன்; நீ ஹரி—தேவர்களுக்கும் அசுரர்களுக்கும் குருவாகப் போற்றப்படுபவன்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal leadership and spiritual authority as grounded in brahmaṇya (support of the Vedic-ethical order) and devotion to the divine, presenting Hari as a universal guide whose dharmic influence extends even across opposing cosmic communities (devas and asuras).
In the Śānti Parva discourse, Bhīṣma addresses and praises Hari (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa), identifying him as devoted to sacred order and as the revered teacher of both gods and demons, thereby affirming his supreme moral and spiritual stature.