Shloka 53
नूनं सप्ताश्वयुक्तेन रथेनोत्तमतेजसा । विमोक्ष्येडहं तदा प्राणान् सुहृदः सुप्रियानिव,'सात घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए उत्तम तेजस्वी रथके द्वारा जब सूर्य कुबेरकी निवासभूत उत्तरदिशाके पथपर आ जायाँगे, उस समय जो राजा मेरे पास आयेंगे, वे मेरी ऊर्ध्व गतिको देख सकेंगे। निश्चय ही उसी समय मैं अत्यन्त प्रियतम सुहृदोंकी भाँति अपने प्यारे प्राणोंका त्याग करूँगा
nūnaṃ saptāśvayuktena rathenottamatejasā | vimokṣye'haṃ tadā prāṇān suhṛdaḥ supriyān iva ||
Sañjaya said: “Surely, at that time I shall release my life-breaths—parting with them as one parts from dearly loved friends—when the Sun, riding his supremely radiant chariot yoked with seven horses, turns upon the northern course. This is a deliberate, timely renunciation: death is not seized in despair, but accepted in accord with the cosmic order, with the calm dignity of one who lets go of what is most beloved.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames death as a conscious ‘release’ of prāṇa aligned with cosmic time: one should meet inevitable departure with composure and detachment, letting go of life as gently as one parts from beloved friends, rather than clinging in fear.
Sañjaya speaks of a destined moment marked by the Sun’s radiant seven-horsed chariot turning to the northern course; at that auspicious time he foresees relinquishing his life-breaths, emphasizing a deliberate, orderly departure rather than a chaotic end.