Shloka 87

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

Devanagari script

नारायणपरा कीर्ति: श्रीक्ष लक्ष्मीक्ष देवता: । नारायणपरं सांख्यं योगो नारायणात्मक:

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |

nārāyaṇaparā kīrtiḥ śrīś ca lakṣmīś ca devatāḥ |

nārāyaṇaparaṃ sāṅkhyaṃ yogo nārāyaṇātmakaḥ ||

Translation

毗耶娑之弟子毗舍摩波耶那说道：名闻（Kīrti）、吉祥（Śrī）与莲华富饶女神拉克什弥（Lakṣmī）等诸神圣威力，唯以那罗延（Nārāyaṇa）为至上归依。数论（Sāṅkhya）之究竟旨趣亦是那罗延；瑜伽（Yoga）亦具那罗延之本性。是故，知见之道与持修之道，以及维系世界的诸般吉祥之力，皆同归于一至高根基。

Word by Word

• नारायणपरा: having Nārāyaṇa as the supreme (refuge/goal)
• नारायणपरा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणपर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कीर्तिः: fame; glory (personified)
• कीर्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीः: Śrī; prosperity (goddess)
• श्रीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī (goddess of fortune)
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• देवताः: deities; goddesses
• देवताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नारायणपरम्: having Nārāyaṇa as the supreme (end/meaning)
• नारायणपरम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणपर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सांख्यम्: Sāṅkhya (philosophy)
• सांख्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• योगः: Yoga (discipline)
• योगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नारायणात्मकः: whose essence/nature is Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणात्मकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणात्मक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Nārāyaṇa
• Kīrti (personified)
• Śrī
• Lakṣmī
• Sāṅkhya
• Yoga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

All auspicious powers (glory, prosperity, fortune) and even the major philosophical disciplines (Sāṅkhya and Yoga) ultimately rest upon and point toward Nārāyaṇa as the supreme ground. The verse teaches a unifying vision: diverse paths and values culminate in the same highest reality.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a doctrinal exposition that elevates Nārāyaṇa as the ultimate refuge and essence behind both devotional ideals and philosophical systems, integrating metaphysics and practice into a single theistic framework.