Shloka 20
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
वेदपुराणेतिहासप्रामाण्यान्नारायणमुखोद्गता: सर्वात्मान: सर्वकर्तार: सर्वभावाश्न ब्राह्मणाश्व
arjuna uvāca | vedapurāṇetihāsaprāmāṇyān nārāyaṇamukhodgatāḥ sarvātmānaḥ sarvakartāraḥ sarvabhāvasvarūpā brāhmaṇāḥ ||
阿周那说道：依据《吠陀》、诸《往世书》与诸《史传》（Itihāsa）的权威，可确立婆罗门出自那罗延（Nārāyaṇa）之口。因此，应当视婆罗门为普遍自我之体现、为神圣仪轨之行者，并为一切吉祥德性之总摄——理当受人敬礼，并在对待他们时持守克己与正行。
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds the special reverence due to Brāhmaṇas in scriptural authority (Veda–Purāṇa–Itihāsa), presenting them as arising from Nārāyaṇa’s mouth—symbolizing their role as bearers of sacred speech, learning, and ritual—and thus as ethically protected and honored within dharma.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Arjuna speaks to affirm a dharma-based view of Brāhmaṇas, citing recognized scriptural sources to justify their exalted status and the moral obligations others have toward them.