Shloka 20
येन चैवाभिपन्नोऽयं प्राणै: प्रियतमैरपि । जन: सद्यो वियुज्येत किमुतान्यैर्धनादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
yena caivābhipanno ’yaṁ prāṇaiḥ priyatamair api janaḥ sadyo viyujyeta kim utānyair dhanādibhiḥ
One who falls under the sway of supreme Kāla must at once surrender even his dearest life; what then to speak of wealth, honor, children, land, and home?
A great Indian scientist, busy in the plan-making business, was suddenly called by invincible eternal time while going to attend a very important meeting of the planning commission, and he had to surrender his life, wife, children, house, land, wealth, etc. During the political upsurge in India and its division into Pakistan and Hindustan, so many rich and influential Indians had to surrender life, property and honor due to the influence of time, and there are hundreds and thousands of examples like that all over the world, all over the universe, which are all effects of the influence of time. Therefore, the conclusion is that there is no powerful living being within the universe who can overcome the influence of time. Many poets have written verses lamenting the influence of time. Many devastations have taken place over the universes due to the influence of time, and no one could check them by any means. Even in our daily life, so many things come and go in which we have no hand, but we have to suffer or tolerate them without remedial measure. That is the result of time.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when time/death overtakes a person, even the dearest thing—one’s very life—must be left behind; therefore attachment to wealth and possessions is ultimately futile, and one should cultivate detachment and spiritual focus.
Vidura was urging Dhṛtarāṣṭra to renounce complacent household attachment and leave for spiritual practice, reminding him that death can separate one instantly from everything, so he should seek lasting welfare (ātma-hita).
Remember the temporary nature of life and possessions, reduce obsessive attachment, prioritize bhakti and self-discipline, and use wealth and relationships in service of dharma rather than as sources of identity and security.