Mahabharata · 1.219.16–17
॥
Devanāgarī
नैतौ शक्यौ दुराधर्षौ विजेतुम् अजितौ युधि ॥
अपि सर्वेषु लोकेषु पुराणाव् ऋषिसत्तमौ ॥
पूजनीयतमाव् एताव् अपि सर्वैः सुरासुरैः ॥
सयक्षरक्षोगन्धर्वनरकिंनरपन्नगैः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
naitau śakyau durādharṣau vijetum ajitau yudhi ||
api sarveṣu lokeṣu purāṇāv ṛṣisattamau ||
pūjanīyatamāv etāv api sarvaiḥ surāsuraiḥ ||
sayakṣarakṣogandharvanarakiṃnarapannagaiḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
न एतौ शक्यौ दुराधर्षौ विजेतुम् अजितौ युधिna etau śakyau durādharṣau vijetum ajitau yudhithese two cannot be conquered, unassailable, unvanquished in battle,
अपि सर्वेषु लोकेषु पुराणौ ऋषिसत्तमौapi sarveṣu lokeṣu purāṇau ṛṣisattamaueven in all the worlds, ancient, the foremost of sages;
पूजनीयतमौ एतौ अपि सर्वैः सुरासुरैःpūjanīyatamau etau api sarvaiḥ surāsuraiḥthese two are most worthy of worship by all gods and asuras,
सयक्षरक्षोगन्धर्वनरकिंनरपन्नगैःsayakṣarakṣogandharvanarakiṃnarapannagaiḥtogether with yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, men, kinnaras, and nagas;
नैतौnaitauoriginal form "naitau", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पुराणाव्purāṇāvoriginal form "purāṇāv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पूजनीयतमाव्pūjanīyatamāvoriginal form "pūjanīyatamāv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
एताव्etāvoriginal form "etāv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"These two cannot be conquered, unassailable, unvanquished in battle, even in all the worlds, ancient, the foremost of sages; these two are most worthy of worship by all gods and asuras, together with yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, men, kinnaras, and nagas."
Version
62611a075a2a · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here Nara and Narayana are proclaimed most worthy of worship by all that exists. It is telling that "all gods and asuras" must worship them: the Lord and His eternal companion are the object of veneration for all worlds. In this is affirmed the supremacy of Narayana and the sanctity of His devotee Nara. So does scripture reveal their undying glory; and to honor them is the duty of every being.