Shloka 14
Āpava
Vasiṣṭha) and the Vasus: the Kāmadhenu Theft and the Curse (Śaṃtanu–Gaṅgā Saṃvāda
प्रतर्दन उवाच पृच्छामि त्वां स्पृहणीयरूप प्रतर्दनो5हं यदि मे सन्ति लोका: । यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रिता: क्षेत्रज्ञ त्वां तस्य धर्मस्य मन््ये,प्रतर्दन बोले--वांछनीय रूपवाले श्रेष्ठ पुरुष! मैं प्रतर्दन हूँ और आपसे पूछता हूँ, यदि अन्तरिक्ष अथवा स्वर्गमें मेरे भी लोक हों तो बताइये। मैं आपको पारलौकिक धर्मका ज्ञाता मानता हूँ
pratardana uvāca pṛcchāmi tvāṁ spṛhaṇīyarūpa pratardano ’haṁ yadi me santi lokāḥ | yady antarīkṣe yadi vā divi śritāḥ kṣetrajña tvāṁ tasya dharmasya manye ||
Pratardana dijo: «Te pregunto, oh tú de forma deseable, oh persona excelente. Yo soy Pratardana: dime si hay mundos reservados para mí, si están en la región intermedia (antarikṣa) o establecidos en el cielo. Te considero conocedor del dharma que rige el más allá.»
प्रतर्दन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as a moral law with consequences beyond this life: Pratardana seeks to know whether his conduct yields access to higher realms (lokas) in the mid-region or heaven, and he appeals to a recognized knower of that otherworldly dharma.
Pratardana addresses a revered figure, respectfully identifying himself and asking for authoritative guidance about his posthumous destination—whether he has earned any celestial realms and where they are located (antarikṣa or heaven).