Shloka 23
Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction
पुष्णाति यानधर्मेण स्वबुद्ध्या तमपण्डितम् । तेऽकृतार्थं प्रहिण्वन्ति प्राणा राय: सुतादय: ॥ २३ ॥
puṣṇāti yān adharmeṇa sva-buddhyā tam apaṇḍitam te ’kṛtārthaṁ prahiṇvanti prāṇā rāyaḥ sutādayaḥ
El necio, creyendo por su propia idea “esto es mío”, incurre en pecado para sostener su vida, su riqueza y sus hijos y parientes. Pero al final, la vida, la fortuna y los hijos mismos lo abandonan, dejándolo frustrado.
In these verses, Akrūra is giving rather frank advice to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Those who know the story of the Mahābhārata will realize how relevant and prophetic these instructions are, and how much Dhṛtarāṣṭra suffered for not accepting them. Although one tenaciously clings to his property, in the end all is lost, and the blundering soul is swept away by the wheel of birth and death.
FAQs
This verse states that when a person’s life remains spiritually unfulfilled, life itself departs—and with it all worldly supports like wealth, sons, and possessions, which cannot accompany the soul.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks, emphasizing that merely maintaining someone through material duty or cleverness is ultimately futile if one does not fulfill life’s true purpose; death strips away all external supports.
Use responsibilities and intelligence not only for material maintenance but to cultivate lasting spiritual purpose—devotion, remembrance of God, and right priorities—since possessions and status cannot protect one at life’s end.