Shloka 10
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
यो मर्त्य: प्रतिपद्येत आयुर्जीवितमात्मन: । यज्ञमेकान्तत: कृत्वा तत् संन्यस्य तपश्चरेत्,जो मनुष्य अपने लिये दीर्घ जीवनकी इच्छा रखता है, वह यत्नपूर्वक यज्ञका अनुष्ठान करके फिर उसे त्यागकर तपस्यामें लग जाय
yo martyaḥ pratipadyeta āyur jīvitam ātmanaḥ | yajñam ekāntataḥ kṛtvā tat saṃnyasya tapaś caret |
Śaunaka sprach: „Wenn ein Sterblicher für sich langes Leben begehrt, soll er zuerst das Opfer (yajña) mit einspännigem Eifer vollziehen; dann aber, nachdem er diesen Opferweg aufgegeben hat, soll er sich der Askese (tapas) widmen.“
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a two-step ethical-spiritual path: first fulfill disciplined ritual duty (yajña) with focused commitment, then move beyond external acts through renunciation and sustained austerity (tapas). Longevity is linked to regulated living and inner purification rather than mere desire.
Śaunaka is speaking in an instructive context, stating what a person should do if he aims for long life: perform sacrifice with single-minded effort, then renounce that ritual engagement and take up austerity, indicating a progression from outward dharma to inward self-control.