Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
नारायणेन दृष्टस्तु प्रतिबुद्धों भवेत् पुमान् एवमात्मेच्छया राजन् प्रतिबुद्धो न जायते
nārāyaṇena dṛṣṭas tu pratibuddho bhavet pumān | evam ātma-icchayā rājan pratibuddho na jāyate ||
اے راجن! جس پر بھگوان نārāyaṇa کی نظرِ کرم پڑتی ہے وہی شخص حقیقتاً بیدارِ معرفت ہوتا ہے؛ یوں محض اپنی خواہش سے کوئی بیدار نہیں ہو جاتا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
True spiritual awakening (pratibodha) is not produced by mere personal desire; it arises when one is favored by Nārāyaṇa’s grace—highlighting the primacy of divine compassion alongside human striving.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses the King and states a doctrinal point within the Śānti Parva’s instruction: enlightenment is granted through Nārāyaṇa’s gracious regard, not simply by an individual’s self-will.