Shloka 7
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
निवृत्ति: कर्मण: पापात् सततं पुण्यशीलता । सद्वृत्ति: समुदाचार: श्रेय एतदनुत्तमम्,पापकर्मोंसे दूर रहना, सदा पुण्यकर्मोंका अनुष्ठान करना, श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंके-से बर्ताव और सदाचारका पालन करना--यही सर्वोत्तम श्रेय (कल्याण)-का साधन है
nivṛttiḥ karmaṇaḥ pāpāt satataṁ puṇyaśīlatā | sadvṛttiḥ samudācāraḥ śreya etad anuttamam ||
Wika ni Nārada: “Ang pagtalikod sa gawang masama, ang palagiang pagkiling sa gawang mabuti, at ang pamumuhay ayon sa asal at mabubuting kaugalian ng mga matuwid—ito ang walang kapantay na daan tungo sa tunay na kapakanan at pinakamataas na kabutihan.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the highest welfare (śreyas) as a threefold discipline: abstaining from sinful deeds, consistently practicing meritorious actions, and aligning one’s behavior with the established good conduct and customs of the virtuous.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Nārada speaks as a moral teacher, summarizing practical markers of dharma—what to avoid (pāpa), what to cultivate (puṇya), and how to live (sadācāra)—as guidance for right living.