Shloka 4
निमित्तमरणाश्षान्ये चन्द्रसू्यों मही जलम् | वायुरग्निस्तथा55काशं ग्रहास्तारागणास्तथा,अन्य सब लोग तो किसी-न-किसी निमित्तसे मृत्युको प्राप्त होते ही हैं। चन्द्रमा, सूर्य, पृथ्वी, जल, वायु, अग्नि, आकाश, ग्रह तथा नक्षत्र--ये सभी नाशवान् हैं
nimitta-maraṇāś cānye candra-sūryau mahī jalam | vāyur agnis tathākāśaṁ grahās tārā-gaṇās tathā ||
Kaṇva said: “All other beings meet death due to one cause or another. Even the moon and the sun, the earth and the waters, the wind and the fire, and likewise space itself—together with the planets and the hosts of stars—are all perishable.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches universal impermanence: death comes to all conditioned beings, and even the grand cosmic elements and luminaries are not eternal. This supports an ethical stance of detachment and sober discernment in decision-making.
In Udyoga Parva, Kaṇva speaks reflectively, emphasizing that mortality is unavoidable and not limited to humans; even cosmic entities are subject to dissolution. The statement functions as counsel meant to temper pride, fear, and rash action during the tense pre-war deliberations.