Shloka 7
Uttarā-diśā Māhātmya — Suparṇa’s Praise of the Northern Quarter
Suparṇa–Gālava Saṃvāda
अतो रात्रिश्व निद्रा च निर्गता दिवसक्षये । जायते जीवलोकस्य हर्तुमर्धमिवायुष:,इसी दिशासे दिनके अन्तमें मानो जीव-जगत्की आधी आयु हर लेनेके लिये रात्रि एवं निद्राका प्राकट्य होता है
ato rātriś ca nidrā ca nirgatau divasakṣaye | jāyate jīvalokasya hartum ardham ivāyuṣaḥ ||
Therefore, at the close of the day, night and sleep manifest—as though they have come forth to take away half the lifespan of living beings.
युपर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless depletion of life by time: even natural and necessary sleep is portrayed as ‘taking away’ half of one’s lifespan. Ethically, it encourages wakeful awareness, disciplined living, and using one’s waking time for dharma and meaningful aims.
The speaker reflects on the daily cycle: as day ends, night and sleep arise. This observation is framed as a moral reflection on how life is steadily shortened, setting a contemplative tone within the broader Udyoga Parva context of urgency and consequential human choices.