Shloka 50
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
न मातृपुत्रबान्धवा न संस्तुतः प्रियो जन: । अनुव्रजन्ति संकटे व्रजन्तमेकपातिनम्
na mātṛ-putra-bāndhavā na saṁstutaḥ priyo janaḥ | anuvrajanti saṅkaṭe vrajantaṁ eka-pātinam ||
Vyāsa dit : «À l’heure du péril, ni la mère, ni le fils, ni les proches—pas même les êtres chers, loués et célébrés—ne suivent celui qui s’engage seul sur la route de l’au-delà. L’enseignement est que la mort et le passage vers l’autre monde se rencontrent en solitaire ; aussi faut-il s’appuyer sur son propre dharma et sur la discipline intérieure plutôt que sur les attachements du monde.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
At death and in the decisive crisis of departing for the next world, one goes alone; even the closest and most celebrated loved ones cannot accompany. Therefore one should cultivate dharma, virtue, and preparedness within oneself rather than depending on social ties.
Vyāsa delivers a reflective instruction in the Śānti Parva, emphasizing the solitary nature of the soul’s departure and using it to counsel detachment from reliance on family and worldly praise.