Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 179
सहधर्म-प्रश्नः तथा अष्टावक्रोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः
Inquiry on Sahadharma and the Opening of the Aṣṭāvakra Narrative
नाचिकेताय भगवानाह वैवस्वतो यम: । मार्कण्डेयाय वार्ष्णेय नाचिकेतो5भ्यभाषत,वृष्णिनन्दन! ऐश्वर्यशाली वैवस्वत यमने नाचिकेताको और नाचिकेतने मार्कण्डेय मुनिको यह स्तोत्र प्रदान किया
nāciketāya bhagavān āha vaivasvato yamaḥ | mārkaṇḍeyāya vārṣṇeya nāciketo ’bhyabhāṣata, vṛṣṇinandana | aiśvaryāśālī vaivasvata yamanā nāciketāko aura nāciketane mārkaṇḍeya muniko yaha stotra pradāna kiyā |
Wika ni Vāyu: Ang kagalang-galang na si Yama, anak ni Vivasvān, ay nagsalita nito kay Naciketā. At, O Vārṣṇeya—inapo ng mga Vṛṣṇi, ligaya ng angkan ng Vṛṣṇi—si Naciketā naman ay bumigkas nito sa rishi na si Mārkaṇḍeya. Sa gayon, ang himnong ito, na unang itinuro ng maluwalhating si Yama, ay naipasa ni Naciketā kay Mārkaṇḍeya, na nagpapakita kung paanong ang banal na kaalaman ay napangangalagaan sa pamamagitan ng mga gurong karapat-dapat at mga alagad na may disiplina.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical importance of preserving and transmitting sacred instruction through a trustworthy lineage: a worthy teacher imparts it, a disciplined recipient retains it, and it is passed on for the welfare of others—showing dharma as continuity of right knowledge and practice.
Vāyu reports a chain of transmission: Yama (Vaivasvata) taught a hymn to Naciketā, and Naciketā later recited or conveyed that same hymn to the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, while addressing the listener as Vārṣṇeya/Vṛṣṇinandana (Kṛṣṇa).