Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 179
सहधर्म-प्रश्नः तथा अष्टावक्रोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः
Inquiry on Sahadharma and the Opening of the Aṣṭāvakra Narrative
नाचिकेताय भगवानाह वैवस्वतो यम: । मार्कण्डेयाय वार्ष्णेय नाचिकेतो5भ्यभाषत,वृष्णिनन्दन! ऐश्वर्यशाली वैवस्वत यमने नाचिकेताको और नाचिकेतने मार्कण्डेय मुनिको यह स्तोत्र प्रदान किया
nāciketāya bhagavān āha vaivasvato yamaḥ | mārkaṇḍeyāya vārṣṇeya nāciketo ’bhyabhāṣata, vṛṣṇinandana | aiśvaryāśālī vaivasvata yamanā nāciketāko aura nāciketane mārkaṇḍeya muniko yaha stotra pradāna kiyā |
风神（Vāyu）说道：可敬的阎摩（Yama），毗婆斯梵（Vivasvān）之子，将此教示于那支迦多（Naciketā）。而你啊，瓦尔什涅耶（Vārṣṇeya）——弗利什尼（Vṛṣṇi）族之后、弗利什尼族之欢喜者——那支迦多又将其诵授给圣者摩罗迦ṇḍेय（Mārkaṇḍeya）。如此，这部赞颂先由光辉的阎摩传出，再由那支迦多递传至摩罗迦ṇḍेय，显明圣教如何在堪任之师与持戒之徒之间相续不绝。
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical importance of preserving and transmitting sacred instruction through a trustworthy lineage: a worthy teacher imparts it, a disciplined recipient retains it, and it is passed on for the welfare of others—showing dharma as continuity of right knowledge and practice.
Vāyu reports a chain of transmission: Yama (Vaivasvata) taught a hymn to Naciketā, and Naciketā later recited or conveyed that same hymn to the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, while addressing the listener as Vārṣṇeya/Vṛṣṇinandana (Kṛṣṇa).