Shloka 35
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
पुरा मृतः प्रणीयते यमस्य राजशासनात् । त्वमन्तकाय दारुणै: प्रयत्नमार्जवे कुरु,तुम्हें मरनेपर यमराजकी आज्ञासे भयानक यमदूतोंद्वारा उनके सामने उपस्थित किया जाय, इसके पहले ही सरलतारूप धर्मके सम्पादनके लिये प्रयत्न करो
purā mṛtaḥ praṇīyate yamasya rājaśāsanāt | tvam antakāya dāruṇaiḥ prayatnam ārjave kuru ||
Vyāsa said: “From of old, when a man dies, he is led away under the royal command of Yama. Therefore, before the dreadful messengers of Death bring you into his presence, strive earnestly to cultivate straightforwardness—simple, honest righteousness.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not wait for death and judgment; practice dharma now—especially ārjava (straightforwardness, honest integrity)—so one’s life is aligned before facing Yama’s reckoning.
Vyāsa warns the listener about the post-mortem journey: after death, one is taken by Yama’s fearsome attendants under Yama’s authority. The verse uses this image to urge immediate moral effort.