Shloka 117
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
जानाति देवप्रवरं भूयश्वातो5थिकं नृप । परमात्मानमीशानमात्मन: प्रभवं तथा,नरेश्वर! वे अपनी उत्पत्तिके कारणभूत देवप्रवर नारायणको इससे भी अधिक जानते हैं। उन्हें सर्वेश्वर और परमात्मा समझते हैं
jānāti devapravaraṃ bhūyaś cāto ’thikaṃ nṛpa | paramātmānam īśānam ātmanaḥ prabhavaṃ tathā ||
Sabi ni Bhīṣma: “O hari, higit pa rito ang lalim ng pagkakakilala nila sa pinakadakila sa mga diyos—si Nārāyaṇa. Kinikilala nila Siya bilang Kataas-taasang Sarili, Panginoon ng lahat, at bilang pinagmumulan din ng kanilang sariling pag-iral. Itinatampok ng aral na ito na ang tunay na karunungan ay humahantong sa pagkilala sa pinakamataas na banal na simulain bilang kapwa naghahari at pinagmulan, at sa pagkilalang iyon itinatatag ang debosyon at wastong asal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest understanding is to know Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme Self and universal Lord, and to see one’s own existence as arising from Him—linking right living (dharma) with reverent recognition of the ultimate source.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira), emphasizing the superior knowledge of those who truly comprehend Nārāyaṇa’s supremacy—framing spiritual insight as central to peace, governance, and ethical life after the war.