Shloka 15
Ruru’s Lament and the Lifespan Exchange for Pramadvarā (रुरु–प्रमद्वरा आयुर्विभागः)
धर्मराज उवाच प्रमद्धरां रुरोर्भार्या देवदूत यदीच्छसि । उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषो<र्धेन रुरोरेव समन्विता,धर्मराज बोले--देवदूत! यदि तुम रुरुकी भार्या प्रमद्वराको जिलाना चाहते हो तो वह रुरुकी ही आधी आयुसे संयुक्त होकर जीवित हो उठे
Dharmarāja uvāca: Pramaddharāṃ Ruror bhāryāṃ devadūta yadīcchasi | Uttiṣṭhatv āyuṣo 'rdhena Ruroreva samanvitā ||
قالَ دَهرماراجا: «يا رسولَ الآلهة، إنْ كنتَ تريدُ أن تُعيدَ برَمَدْفَرا، زوجةَ رورو، إلى الحياة، فلتنهضْ حيّةً من جديد—ولكنْ على أن تُقرَنَ بنصفِ عُمرِ رورو نفسِه.»
धर्मराज उवाच
Educational Q&A
Life restored through dharma is not granted without moral cost: compassion is balanced by justice, and the remedy requires a proportional sacrifice—here, half of Ruru’s lifespan—highlighting responsibility and the ethical weight of reversing death.
Dharmarāja addresses a divine messenger and sets the condition for reviving Pramadvarā, Ruru’s wife: she may return to life only if she is sustained by half of Ruru’s own allotted lifespan, establishing the terms of a life-exchange.