Shloka 16
Āpava
Vasiṣṭha) and the Vasus: the Kāmadhenu Theft and the Curse (Śaṃtanu–Gaṅgā Saṃvāda
प्रतर्दन उवाच तांस्ते ददानि मा प्रपत प्रपात॑ ये मे लोकास्तव ते वै भवन्तु | यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रिता- स्तानाक्रम क्षिप्रमपेतमोह:,प्रतर्दन बोले--महाराज! वे सभी लोक मैं आपको देता हूँ, आप नीचे न गिरें। जो मेरे लोक हैं वे सब आपके हो जायाँ। वे अन्तरिक्षमें हों या स्वर्गमें, आप शीघ्र मोहरहित होकर उनमें चले जाइये
pratardana uvāca tāṁs te dadāni mā prapata prapāta ye me lokās tava te vai bhavantu | yady antarikṣe yadi vā divi śritās tān ākram kṣipram apeta-mohaḥ ||
Pratardana dijo: «Te concedo esos reinos: no caigas en el abismo. Los mundos que son míos pasarán, en verdad, a ser tuyos. Ya estén en la región intermedia o establecidos en el cielo, entra en ellos de inmediato, con presteza, una vez arrojada la ilusión.»
प्रतर्दन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes a dharmic ideal of generosity and spiritual clarity: one should not succumb to 'falling' (moral/spiritual collapse) but move forward decisively after abandoning delusion (moha). The offering of 'worlds' symbolizes relinquishing claims and acting from higher purpose rather than attachment.
Pratardana addresses a king (Maharaja in the Hindi gloss) and urges him not to fall into ruin. He declares that the realms belonging to him will become the other’s, and instructs him to enter those realms—whether in the atmosphere or in heaven—quickly, with his confusion removed.