Shloka 95
Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank
अयं हि नित्य: परमो महर्षि- महाविभूतिर्गुणवर्जिताख्य: । गुणैश्व संयोगमुपैति शीघ्र कालो यथर्तावृतुसम्प्रयुक्त:
ayaṁ hi nityaḥ paramo maharṣiḥ mahāvibhūtir guṇavarjitākhyaḥ | guṇaiś ca saṁyogam upaiti śīghraṁ kālo yathartāv ṛtusamprayuktaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Siya ay walang hanggan—ang kataas-taasang dakilang rishí—may malawak na karangalan, at sinasabing lampas sa mga guṇa. Gayunman, mabilis Siyang nakikipag-ugnay sa mga guṇa, gaya ng Panahon na bagaman walang katangian sa sarili, ay nauugnay sa mga katangian ng mga panahon ng taon sa takdang pag-ikot. Sa gayon din, si Nārāyaṇa, bagaman laging transendente, ay tumatanggap ng mga anyong guṇiko sa angkop na sandali upang isaayos ang daigdig.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme (Nārāyaṇa) is intrinsically beyond the guṇas, yet can voluntarily associate with them for cosmic governance—like Time, which is itself quality-less but appears qualified through seasonal conditions. This preserves both transcendence (nirguṇatva) and purposeful immanence (līlā/administration of the world).
Vaiśaṃpāyana is explaining a doctrinal point in Śānti Parva: the nature of the Supreme as eternally transcendent, while still capable of manifesting within the world by taking up guṇic modes when required, illustrated through the analogy of Time’s relation to the seasons.