Shloka 4
एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline
गुप्तानि चत्वारि यथागमं मे शत्रौ च मित्रे च समो5स्मि नित्यम् । त॑ चादिदेवं सतत प्रपन्न एकान्तभावेन वृणोम्यजस््रम्
guptāni catvāri yathāgamaṁ me śatrau ca mitre ca samo ’smi nityam | taṁ cādidevaṁ satataṁ prapanna ekāntabhāvena vṛṇomy ajasram ||
نارد نے کہا—مقدّس روایت کے مطابق میں چار باتیں پوشیدہ رکھتا ہوں۔ دشمن اور دوست—دونوں کے ساتھ میں ہمیشہ یکساں رہتا ہوں۔ اور میں اس ازلی دیوتا کی پناہ مسلسل لیتا ہوں؛ یکسوئیِ دل کی بھکتی سے میں بےوقفہ اُسی کو اختیار کرتا ہوں۔
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches two complementary disciplines: (1) ethical self-governance through discretion—keeping certain matters confidential as sanctioned by tradition—and (2) inner steadiness—maintaining equal-mindedness toward friend and foe. Both are grounded in sustained refuge and exclusive devotion to the Primordial Lord.
Nārada is speaking in the Śānti Parva, presenting a personal statement of conduct and spiritual orientation: he follows scriptural guidance, practices impartiality in social relations, and lives in continuous surrender to the Ādideva with single-pointed devotion.