Shloka 5
आर्जुन–गन्धर्वसंवादः
Arjuna–Gandharva Dialogue on Honor, Night-Power, and Purohita-Nīti
इह वा तारयेद् दुर्गादुत वा प्रेत्य भारत । सर्वथा तारयेत् पुत्र: पुत्र इत्युच्यते बुधै:,'जो पुत्र इस लोकमें दुर्गण संकटसे पार लगाये अथवा मृत्युके पश्चात् परलोकमें उद्धार करे--सब प्रकार पिताको तार दे, उसे ही दविद्वानोंने वास्तवमें पुत्र कहा है
iha vā tārayet durgād uta vā pretya bhārata | sarvathā tārayet putraḥ putra ity ucyate budhaiḥ ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «يا بهاراتا، سواء أنقذ الابنُ أباه في هذا العالم من الخطر والشدة، أو خلّصه بعد الموت في العالم الآخر—فمن يخلّص أباه على كل وجه، فهو الذي يسميه الحكماء حقًّا “ابنًا”.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A true ‘son’ is defined ethically by his capacity to protect and uplift his father—both in worldly crises and, through righteous conduct and ritual responsibility, in the posthumous welfare of the father.
Vaiśampāyana, addressing Janamejaya as ‘Bhārata’, offers a normative definition of ‘putra’ (son), emphasizing the son’s role as a deliverer from danger in this life and as a source of spiritual benefit after death.