Shloka 24
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
प्राहुर्नारायणं देवं यं विश्वस्य परायणम्
prāhur nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ yaṃ viśvasya parāyaṇam
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “เขาทั้งหลายประกาศว่านารายณะคือเทพเจ้า—ผู้ซึ่งสากลจักรวาลยึดเป็นที่พึ่งสูงสุดและเป็นที่สุดแห่งมรรคา”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms Nārāyaṇa as the highest divine principle: the universe’s ultimate refuge and final goal. Ethically, it frames dharma as grounded in a transcendent source, encouraging surrender, trust, and orientation of life toward the highest good.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right living, Bhīṣma—speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira—cites received tradition (“they declare”) to identify Nārāyaṇa as the supreme Lord, establishing a theological foundation for the teachings that follow.