Shloka 1
Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka
Grief
अ-क्रा् - एक प्राणायाममें पूरक
yājñavalkya uvāca | tathaivotkramamāṇaṃ tu śṛṇuṣvāvahito nṛpa | padabhyām utkramamāṇasya vaiṣṇavaṃ sthānam ucyate ||
Yājñavalkya said: “In the same way, O king, listen attentively as I explain the soul’s departure at death. When the vital breath departs through the feet, it is declared that the departing person attains the supreme abode of Viṣṇu.”
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a doctrine of ‘paths of departure’ at death: the bodily exit-point of the vital breath is linked to the post-mortem destination. Specifically, departure through the feet is said to lead to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode.
Yājñavalkya addresses a king and begins an explanation of how the prāṇa departs the body at death and what results follow from different modes of departure, starting here with the case of exit through the feet.