Shloka 42

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

मृतस्य देहनाशश्च धर्माद्युपरतिस्तथा ।

आत्मानं सर्वतो रक्ष्यमाहुर्धर्मविदो जनाः ॥

Transliteration

mṛtasya dehanāśaś ca dharmādy-uparatis tathā /

ātmānaṃ sarvato rakṣyam āhur dharmavido janāḥ

Translation

Wenn einer stirbt, wird der Körper zerstört, und ebenso kommen Dharma und das Übrige (Lebensziele und -übungen) zum Stillstand. Darum erklären die Kenner des Dharma, man solle sich selbst auf jede Weise schützen.

Speakers

• Not explicitly identifiable from the single verse provided (requires surrounding verses to confirm whether within Markandeya–Jaimini frame or the Dharmapakshi birds’ discourse).

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Practical wisdom
• Self-preservation
• Human aims (puruṣārthas)