Shloka 16
ययातिपतनम् — Yayāti’s Fall and the Offer of Dharma
Nārada’s Account
अवमेने नरान् सर्वान् देवानृषिगणांस्तथा । ययातिर्मूढविज्ञानो विस्मयाविष्टचेतन:
avamene narān sarvān devān ṛṣigaṇāṁs tathā | yayātir mūḍha-vijñāno vismayāviṣṭa-cetanaḥ ||
Nārada sprach: „Yayāti, dessen Erkenntnis von Verblendung umhüllt und dessen Geist vom Staunen ergriffen war, begann alle Menschen zu verachten, ebenso die Götter und die Scharen der Weisen.“ Im Epos bezeichnet dies den sittlichen Absturz, der auf langes Genießen und himmlischen Glanz folgen kann: Staunen wird zu Rausch, und Rausch zu Verachtung dessen, was Ehrfurcht verdient.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A mind dazzled by prosperity can lose discernment and slip into arrogance; contempt for humans, gods, and sages signals a collapse of dharma. The verse warns that wonder at one’s own splendor, if unchecked, becomes moha and leads to disrespect toward those who deserve honor.
Nārada describes a phase in Yayāti’s experience of extraordinary splendor and long enjoyment. Overwhelmed by amazement and mentally clouded, Yayāti begins to disregard everyone—humans, gods, and even assemblies of sages—showing how success can corrupt judgment.