Shloka 17
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
यमाहु: सर्वभूतानां प्रकृते: प्रकृति धरुवम् । अनादिनिधन देवं प्रभुं नारायणं परम्
yam āhuḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ prakṛteḥ prakṛti dhruvam | anādinidhanaṁ devaṁ prabhuṁ nārāyaṇaṁ param ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ang Kataas-taasang Panginoong Nārāyaṇa—walang pasimula at walang wakas, ang banal na Maykapangyarihan—na inilalarawan ng marurunong bilang di-nasisirang unang saligan ng lahat ng nilalang at pinagmumulan ng prakṛti, ay ipinahahayag na higit pa maging sa Brahmaloka. Ang kanyang tahanan ay nahahayag sa sarili niyang liwanag; higit itong maningning kaysa araw at apoy. Kahit ang mga diyos ay hindi madaling makatanaw sa kanyang mapalad at lubos na nagliliwanag na anyo; at para sa mga deva at dānava, ang pagtanaw sa kanya ay lubhang napakahirap.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts Nārāyaṇa/Viṣṇu as the beginningless, endless supreme Lord—beyond even Brahmaloka—whose abode is self-luminous and whose direct vision is difficult even for gods and dānavas, emphasizing transcendence and the limits of ordinary celestial power.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the supreme status and radiance of Nārāyaṇa, characterizing Him as the imperishable ground of beings and the source behind Prakṛti, while stressing that His realm and vision surpass what even divine beings can readily attain.