Shloka 21
शान्ता दान्ता: क्षमाशीलास्तीर्थदानपरायणा: । पुण्यदेशनिवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः । तेजस्विदेशवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न न:,“हम सदा शम, दम, क्षमा, तीर्थ-सेवन और दानमें तत्पर रहनेवाले हैं तथा पवित्र देशमें निवास करते हैं। इसलिये भी हमें मृत्युसे भय नहीं है। इतना ही नहीं हमलोग तेजस्वी पुरुषोंके देशमें निवास करते हैं अर्थात् सत्पुरुषोंक समीप रहा करते हैं। इस कारणसे भी हमें मृत्युसे भय नहीं होता है
śāntā dāntāḥ kṣamāśīlāstīrthadānaparāyaṇāḥ | puṇyadeśanivāsācca tasmān mṛtyubhayaṃ na naḥ | tejasvideśavāsācca tasmān mṛtyubhayaṃ na naḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “We are tranquil and self-restrained, patient and forbearing, devoted to pilgrimage and to giving. And because we dwell in a holy land, we have no fear of death. Moreover, we live in a land of the spiritually radiant—meaning we keep company with the virtuous. For that reason too, death holds no terror for us.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fearlessness toward death is grounded in a dharmic life: inner calm (śama), self-restraint (dama), forgiveness (kṣamā), regular sacred practice (tīrtha-sevana), generosity (dāna), and especially living in a sanctifying environment—both a holy place and the company of virtuous, spiritually radiant people.
Mārkaṇḍeya explains why ‘we’ (the group being described) do not fear death: their disciplined virtues and religious practices, their residence in a sacred region, and their proximity to tejasvin—upright, spiritually powerful persons—are presented as protective and elevating conditions.