Shloka 5
परिक्षिद्वृत्तान्तप्रश्नः
Inquiry into Parīkṣit’s Conduct and the Beginnings of His Downfall
निराहारान् कृशान् दीनान् गर्ते स्वत्राणमिच्छत: । उपसृत्य स तान् दीनान् दीनरूपो5भ्यभाषत,वे पितर निराहार, दीन और दुर्बल हो गये थे और चाहते थे कि कोई हमें इस गडढेमें गिरनेसे बचा ले। जरत्कारु उनकी दयनीय दशा देखकर दयासे द्रवित हो स्वयं भी दीन हो गये और उन दीन-दुःखी पितरोंके समीप जाकर बोले--
nirāhārān kṛśān dīnān garte svatrāṇam icchataḥ | upasṛtya sa tān dīnān dīnarūpo 'bhyabhāṣata ||
Ils avaient jeûné, s’étaient amaigris et étaient tombés dans la misère, aspirant à ce que quelqu’un les délivre de la fosse. Voyant ces ancêtres accablés dans un état si pitoyable, il fut lui-même saisi de compassion; prenant une attitude humble et douloureuse, il s’approcha d’eux et parla.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds pitṛdharma: one’s ethical responsibility toward ancestors and lineage. Compassion is not merely emotion here; it becomes a motive for action—approaching the afflicted and responding to their need—implying that neglect of familial/ancestral duties leads to suffering that descendants are called to remedy.
The ancestors (pitṛs) are depicted as starving and weakened, trapped in a pit and yearning for rescue. The protagonist (contextually, Jaratkāru in this episode) sees their misery, becomes compassionately affected, approaches them, and begins to address them, setting up the ensuing explanation of why they suffer and what must be done to save them.