Shloka 26
आस्तीक-उपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः | Introduction to the Āstīka Narrative
तद् दारग्रहणे यत्नं संतत्यां च मन: कुरु । पुत्रकास्मन्नियोगात् त्वमेतन्न: परमं हितम्,अतः बेटा! तुम हमारी आज्ञासे विवाह करनेका प्रयत्न करो और संतानोत्पादनकी ओर ध्यान दो। यही हमारे लिये सर्वोत्तम हितकी बात होगी
tad dāragrahaṇe yatnaṁ santatyāṁ ca manaḥ kuru | putrakāsmanniyogāt tvam etan naḥ paramaṁ hitam ||
فلذلك ابذل جهدك في اتخاذ زوجة، ووجِّه قلبك أيضًا إلى إنجاب الذرية. يا بُنيّ، وِفقًا لأمرنا افعل هذا—فإنه لنا أعظمُ الخير.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes gṛhastha-dharma: accepting marriage and focusing on progeny as a duty that sustains family and lineage, presented as the ‘highest good’ for the elders and the community.
Śaunaka addresses the listener affectionately as ‘son’ and urges him, under the elders’ instruction, to make a deliberate effort to marry and to attend to the continuation of the family line through offspring.