Shloka 223
धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)
सम्पूजितो भवेत् पार्थ देवो नारायण: प्रभु: । पाण्डुनन्दन! इन भगवान् रुद्रको नारायणस्वरूप ही जानना चाहिये। पार्थ! प्रत्येक युगमें उन देवाधिदेव महेश्वरकी पूजा करनेसे सर्वसमर्थ भगवान् नारायणकी ही पूजा होती है
sampūjito bhavet pārtha devo nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ | pāṇḍunandana! imaṃ bhagavān rudrako nārāyaṇasvarūpa eva jñātavyaḥ | pārtha! pratyeka-yuge te devādhideva-maheśvarasya pūjanena sarva-samartha-bhagavān nārāyaṇa eva pūjitaḥ bhavati |
阿周那说：“噢，帕尔塔啊，至上主宰那罗延（Nārāyaṇa）唯在以正心奉祀时，方得真正的尊崇。噢，般度之子，当知这位受敬的鲁陀罗，正是那罗延的显现。噢，帕尔塔啊，历一切劫世，礼拜天神之上的大自在天（摩醯首罗，Maheshvara），实即礼拜全能的那罗延。”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches theological unity: Rudra/Maheshvara is to be understood as a manifestation of Narayana, so sincere worship of Maheshvara in any age is effectively worship of Narayana. Ethically, it promotes reverence without rivalry and discourages divisive sectarianism.
Arjuna addresses himself as Partha/Pandunandana in a didactic statement, affirming that honoring Maheshvara (Rudra) amounts to honoring Narayana. The passage functions as a doctrinal clarification within Shanti Parva’s broader instruction on dharma and right understanding.