Shloka 18
कव्यानि पितर: काले सर्वकामान् द्विजोत्तमा: । उनके यज्ञमें देवता और पितर प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन देकर यथासमय हव्य और कव्य ग्रहण करते थे तथा श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण वहाँ सम्पूर्ण मनोवांछित पदार्थोंको पाते थे ।। स चेन्ममार सृज्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया,वैत्य सृंजय! वे रन्तिदेव चारों कल्याणमय गुणोंमें तुमसे बहुत बढ़े-चढ़े थे और तुम्हारे पुत्रकी अपेक्षा बहुत अधिक पुण्यात्मा थे। जब वे भी मर गये, तब दूसरोंकी क्या बात है। अतः तुम यज्ञ और दान-दक्षिणासे रहित अपने पुत्रके लिये शोक न करो। ऐसा नारदजीने कहा
kavyāni pitaraḥ kāle sarvakāmān dvijottamāḥ | teṣāṃ yajñe devatāś ca pitaraś ca pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dattvā yathāsamayaṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca gṛhṇanti sma, tathā ca śreṣṭhā brāhmaṇāḥ tatra samastān manovāñchitān padārthān prāpnuvan | sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā, vīra sṛñjaya! te rantidevāś caturṣu kalyāṇaguṇeṣu tvatto 'pi bahutarāḥ, tava putrād api bahutara-puṇyātmānaḥ | yadā te 'pi mṛtāḥ, tadānyānāṃ kā kathā? ataḥ tvaṃ yajña-dāna-dakṣiṇā-rahitasya putrasya kṛte śokaṃ mā kṛthā iti nārada uvāca |
Narada said: “In due season the offerings meant for the Fathers (kavya) were duly presented, and the best of Brahmins obtained every desired object. In those sacrifices the gods and the ancestral Fathers would appear in person and, at the proper time, accept the havya and kavya offerings. Yet even such men—like the renowned Rantideva—who surpassed you in every auspicious quality and were far more meritorious than your son, have also died. If they too have passed away, what need be said of others? Therefore, do not grieve for your son—especially when his life was not supported by sacrifice, charity, and due priestly gifts (dakṣiṇā).”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Narada teaches the inevitability of death even for the most virtuous and prosperous, and urges restraint of grief. He also links lasting honor and merit to dharmic life—sacrifice, charity, and proper gifts—implying that lamentation should give way to ethical reflection and right conduct.
Narada addresses King Sṛñjaya, who is grieving for his son. He cites exemplary figures such as Rantideva—whose sacrifices were so potent that gods and ancestors appeared to accept offerings—yet who still died. By this comparison, Narada argues that Sṛñjaya should not be overwhelmed by sorrow for his son.