Shloka 123
Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka
Grief
कृष्णश्यावच्छविच्छाय: षण्मासान्मृत्युलक्षणम् । जो काले रंगका होकर भी पीला पड़ने लगे
kṛṣṇaśyāvachavicchāyaḥ ṣaṇmāsān mṛtyulakṣaṇam |
Dijo Yājñavalkya: «Cuando la tez naturalmente oscura o morena de una persona empieza a palidecer o a tornarse amarillenta, se toma como señal de muerte inminente: no se espera que viva más de seis meses. Del mismo modo, quien muestra desprecio hacia los dioses y entra en enemistad con los brāhmaṇas lleva la misma marca fatal.»
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical decline—disrespecting the gods and opposing brāhmaṇas—with grave consequences, and frames certain bodily changes (a dark complexion turning pallid/yellowish) as traditional omens of imminent death. The moral emphasis is on maintaining reverence and right conduct (dharma), especially toward sacred institutions.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Yājñavalkya is instructing about signs and causes associated with impending death and misfortune. He presents a prognostic marker (complexion change) and pairs it with behavioral markers (impiety and hostility toward brāhmaṇas) as indicators that a person’s end is near.