Shloka 12
धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry to Sañjaya
पुत्रात् पुण्यतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथा: । अयज्वानमदाक्षिण्यमश्रि श्रैत्येत्युदाहरत्,वैत्य सुंजय! वे दिलीप धर्म, ज्ञान, वैराग्य और ऐश्वर्य--इन चारों कल्याणकारी गुणोंमें तुमसे बहुत बढ़े-चढ़े थे, तुम्हारे पुत्रसे भी अधिक पुण्यात्मा थे। जब वे भी मर गये तब औरोंकी क्या बात है? अतः जिसने कभी यज्ञ नहीं किया, दक्षिणाएँ नहीं बाँटीं, अपने उस पुत्रके लिये तुम शोक न करो--इस प्रकार नारदजीने कहा
putrāt puṇyataras tubhyaṃ mā putram anutapyathāḥ | ayajvān amadākṣiṇyam aśrīśraity ety udāharat, vaittya saṃjaya ||
Narada said: “Do not grieve for your son. There are persons far more meritorious than you—indeed, more righteous even than your son—endowed with dharma, knowledge, dispassion, and lordly prosperity, and yet they too have died; what then is to be said of others? Therefore, do not lament for that son of yours who never performed sacrifices and never bestowed sacrificial gifts.” Thus Narada instructed Sañjaya, holding up this example to turn him from futile sorrow toward discernment.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Narada teaches detachment from grief by pointing to impermanence: even the most virtuous and accomplished die, so lamentation is unavailing. He also frames ethical evaluation in terms of dharma and meritorious conduct (yajña and generosity), urging discernment rather than blind attachment.
Narada addresses Sañjaya, who is grieving for his son. To console and correct him, Narada cites the example that even those superior in dharma, knowledge, renunciation, and prosperity have died, and therefore Sañjaya should not mourn excessively—especially for a son portrayed as lacking sacrificial and charitable conduct.