Shloka 20
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 90 — Pūror Vaṃśa, Kuru-Pravara, and the Janamejaya Line
Genealogical Recitation
तत्र स्थितं मां देवसुखेषु सक्तं काले5तीते महति ततो&5तिमात्रम् | दूतो देवानामत्रवीदुग्ररूपो ध्वंसेत्युच्चैस्त्रि: प्लुतेन स्वरेण,वहाँ रहकर मैं देवलोकके सुखोंमें आसक्त हो गया। तदनन्तर बहुत अधिक समय बीत जानेपर एक भयंकर रूपधारी देवदूत आकर मुझसे ऊँची आवाजमें तीन बार बोला--“गिर जाओ, गिर जाओ, गिर जाओ'
tatra sthitaṁ māṁ devasukhēṣu saktaṁ kāle'tīte mahati tato'timātram | dūto devānām atravīd ugrarūpo dhvaṁsety uccais triḥ plutena svareṇa ||
Dwelling there, I became attached to the pleasures of the gods. Then, after a very long time had passed—far beyond measure—a terrifying messenger of the gods appeared and, in a loud voice with a prolonged tone, cried out to me three times: “Fall! Fall! Fall!” The moment exposes the moral peril of complacency in heavenly enjoyments: even celestial reward is impermanent, and attachment invites a sudden reversal when merit is exhausted.
अष्टक उवाच