Shloka 22
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
ऋग्वेदपाठपठितं व्रतमेतद्धि दुश्चरम् । सुपर्णाच्चाप्यधिगतो धर्म एब सनातन:
ṛgvedapāṭhapaṭhitaṁ vratam etad dhi duścaram | suparṇāc cāpy adhigato dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—رِگ وید کے پاٹھ اور مطالعے پر قائم یہ ورت بے شک نہایت دشوار ہے۔ اور یہ سَناتن دھرم سُپَرْنَ (گروڑ) سے بھی حاصل کیا گیا تھا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true dharma is both scripturally grounded (linked to Ṛgvedic recitation/study) and demanding in practice; it is presented as sanātana—perennial and authoritative—also transmitted through revered sources such as Suparṇa (Garuḍa).
Vaiśampāyana, continuing the discourse in Śānti Parva, underscores the difficulty of a particular vow/discipline associated with Vedic study and notes its traditional pedigree by stating that this eternal dharma was also learned from Suparṇa.