Shloka 13
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 60: Arjuna’s return, auspicious omens, and mission delegation
शत्रुओंकी दशा और आशाका हनन करनेवाले सूंजय! राजा भगीरथने यज्ञोंमें प्रधान ज्ञानयज्ञ और ध्यानयज्ञको ग्रहण किया था। इसलिये किरणोंका पान करनेवाले महर्षिगण भी उस ब्रह्मलोकमें जितेन्द्रिय राजा भगीरथके निकट जाकर उसी स्थानपर रहनेकी इच्छा करते थे ।। स चेन्ममार सृञ्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया । पुत्रात् पुण्यतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथा:
śatrūṇāṃ daśāṃ ca āśāyāś ca hanana-kāraka sṛñjaya! rājā bhagīratho yajñeṣu pradhānaṃ jñāna-yajñaṃ dhyāna-yajñaṃ ca jagrāha; tasmāt kiraṇa-pāyino mahārṣayaḥ api tasmin brahma-loke jitendriyaṃ rājānaṃ bhagīrathaṃ samīpam upetya tatraiva sthātuṃ icchanti sma. sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadra-taraḥ tvayā, putrāt puṇya-taraḥ tubhyaṃ mā putram anutapyathā.
Nārada said: “O Sṛñjaya, breaker of the enemies’ condition and of their hopes! King Bhagīratha, among sacrifices, chose above all the sacrifice of knowledge and the sacrifice of meditation. For that reason even the great seers—drinkers of the sun’s rays—would go near that self-controlled king Bhagīratha in the world of Brahman and desire to dwell in that very place. If that one (your son) has died, O Sṛñjaya, he is fourfold more blessed than you; he is more meritorious for you than a son—therefore do not grieve for your son.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Nārada reframes bereavement through dharma: inner sacrifices—knowledge and meditation—are superior to external rites, and a virtuous death can be spiritually auspicious; therefore grief should be moderated by understanding of merit and higher destiny.
Nārada addresses Sṛñjaya, praising the spiritual stature associated with King Bhagīratha and Brahmaloka, and then consoles Sṛñjaya about the death of his son, urging him not to lament because the deceased is described as especially blessed and beneficial in merit.