Shloka 44
Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)
नारद उवाच सा वै भीता मृत्युसंज्ञोपदेशा- च्छापाद् भीता बाढमित्यब्रवीत् तम् साच प्राणं प्राणिनामन्तकाले कामक्रोधौ त्यज्य हरत्यसक्ता,नारदजी कहते हैं--राजन्! वह मृत्यु नामवाली नारी ब्रह्माजीके उस उपदेशसे और विशेषतः उनके शापके भयसे भीत होकर उनसे बोली--“बहुत अच्छा, आपकी आज्ञा स्वीकार है'। वही मृत्यु अन्तकाल आनेपर काम और क्रोधका परित्याग करके अनासक्तभावसे समस्त प्राणियोंके प्राणोंका अपहरण करती है
nārada uvāca sā vai bhītā mṛtyusaṃjñopadeśāc chāpād bhītā bāḍham ity abravīt tam | sā ca prāṇaṃ prāṇinām antakāle kāmakrodhau tyajya haraty asaktā ||
Narada said: Terrified by Brahmā’s instruction—and even more by his curse—the woman known as Death replied to him, “So be it; I accept your command.” And thus, when the final hour arrives, she casts aside desire and anger and, remaining unattached, takes away the life-breath of all living beings.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Death, as a cosmic function, is portrayed as impartial and ethically ‘unattached’: at the final moment it operates without personal passion (kāma) or anger (krodha). The verse frames mortality as part of ordained order rather than personal malice.
Narada recounts how the woman called Death, frightened by Brahmā’s directive and especially his curse, agrees to his command. Thereafter she performs her role at the end of life by taking beings’ life-breath without attachment, having set aside desire and anger.