Shloka 17
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
अदर्शनमसंस्पर्शस्तथासम्भाषणं सदा । यस्य भूतै: सह मुने स श्रेयो विन्दते परम्
adarśanam asaṁsparśas tathā asaṁbhāṣaṇaṁ sadā | yasya bhūtaiḥ saha mune sa śreyo vindate param ||
Sinabi ni Nārada: “O pantas, ang sinumang laging nananatiling hindi nakikilahok sa mga nilalang—hindi tumitingin sa kanila, hindi humahawak sa kanila, at hindi nakikipag-usap sa kanila—ay nakakamit ang pinakamataas na kabutihan.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises radical restraint: by withdrawing the senses and speech from social entanglement—no looking, touching, or talking with beings—a renunciant protects inner calm and moves toward the highest śreyas (supreme welfare), i.e., spiritual liberation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Nārada addresses a sage and states an ascetic rule of conduct: sustained non-interaction with living beings is presented as a means to attain the highest good.