Shloka 58
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
तान् विसृज्य च मां प्राह पिता सास्राविलेक्षण: । प्रणमन्तं परिष्वज्य मूर्ध्न्युपाप्राय पाण्डव
tān visṛjya ca māṃ prāha pitā sāśrāvilekṣaṇaḥ | praṇamantaṃ pariṣvajya mūrdhny upāghrāya pāṇḍava ||
Après les avoir congédiés, mon père—les yeux voilés de larmes—me parla. Comme je m’inclinais avec respect, il m’enlaça et baisa mon front, ô fils de Pāṇḍu. Cette scène fait paraître la tendresse d’un père et le poids éthique de la séparation : le devoir se poursuit, mais il est sanctifié par la bénédiction, la retenue et une compassion venue du cœur.
गालव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct within family life: reverence shown by the son through praṇāma, and the father’s compassionate blessing through embrace and a kiss on the head. Duty and separation are tempered by affection, restraint, and the transmission of moral support.
Gālava recounts that after others were sent away, his father—tearful—addressed him. As Gālava bowed, the father embraced him and kissed his head, indicating an emotionally charged farewell and a blessing before the next step in Gālava’s undertaking.