Shloka 96
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
अद्यप्रभृति मे दाश ब्रह्मचर्य भविष्यति । अपुत्रस्यापि मे लोका भविष्यन्त्यक्षया दिवि,निषादराज! आजसे मेरा आजीवन अखण्ड ब्रह्मचर्य व्रत चलता रहेगा। मेरे पुत्र न होनेपर भी स्वर्गमें मुझे अक्षय लोक प्राप्त होंगे
adyaprabhṛti me dāśa brahmacaryaṁ bhaviṣyati | aputrasyāpi me lokā bhaviṣyanty akṣayā divi, niṣādarāja! |
Gāḍeya dijo: «Desde este día, oh pescador, viviré en brahmacarya, continencia perfecta, por toda la vida. Aunque no tenga hijo, oh rey de los Niṣādas, serán míos los mundos imperecederos del cielo.»
गाड़ेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that steadfast dharmic discipline—here, a lifelong vow of brahmacarya—can itself generate enduring spiritual merit. It also challenges the idea that only having a son guarantees posthumous welfare, asserting that personal virtue and vows can secure imperishable heavenly attainments even for one who remains sonless.
Gāḍeya addresses a fisherman and the Niṣāda king, declaring a decisive commitment: from that day onward he will maintain unbroken brahmacarya for life. He further states that despite not having a son, he will still attain imperishable heavenly realms, indicating a deliberate choice of ascetic virtue over household continuation.