Shloka 45
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
पुरा कुसड्भतानि ते सुहन्मुखाश्न शत्रव: । विचालयमन्ति दर्शनाद् घटस्व पुत्र यत्परम्
purā kusaḍbhatāni te suhanmukhāśna śatravaḥ | vicālayamanti darśanād ghaṭasva putra yatparam ||
Vyāsa dit : «Autrefois, tes ennemis—si farouches et si difficiles à dompter—étaient ébranlés par ta seule vue. C’est pourquoi, mon fils, efforce-toi maintenant d’atteindre ce qu’il y a de plus haut : le bien suprême.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Past worldly power—such as inspiring fear in enemies—is not the final measure of success; Vyāsa urges striving for the ‘parama’ (highest good), pointing toward inner excellence and ultimate welfare rather than mere dominance.
Vyāsa addresses his son, recalling a time when the son’s presence alone unsettled opponents, and then redirects him from reliance on former martial prestige toward earnest pursuit of the supreme aim.