Shloka 28
पितृयज्ञे नारायणतत्त्वम् — The Nārāyaṇa Grounding of Ancestral Offerings
अब्रवीत् तास्तदा वाक््यं शुक: परमधर्मवित् | पिता यद्यनुगच्छेन्मां क्रोशभान: शुकेति वै
abravīt tāstadā vākyaṃ śukaḥ paramadharmavit | pitā yadyanugacchen māṃ krośabhānaḥ śuketi vai ||
Alors Śuka, connaisseur du dharma suprême, leur dit : « Ô déesses ! Si mon père venait à me poursuivre en criant d’une voix forte : “Śuka !”, soyez vigilantes et répondez-lui en mon nom. Vous me portez une grande affection ; aussi, accordez-moi cette petite requête. »
शुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even while pursuing the highest dharma (renunciation and inner freedom), one should act with consideration for others—here, Śuka requests a careful, truthful, and restrained response so that affection does not turn into disturbance or impropriety.
Śuka addresses a group of women and instructs them that if his father comes searching for him, calling his name loudly, they should remain attentive and answer on his behalf—reflecting Śuka’s resolve to move onward while managing the social consequences of his departure.