Shloka 9
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
नाचिकेतं पिता दृष्टवा पतितं दुःखमूर्च्छित: । कि मया कृतमित्युक्त्वा निपषात महीतले,नाचिकेतको गिरा देख उसके पिता भी दु:खसे मूर्च्छित हो गये और “अरे, यह मैंने क्या कर डाला!” ऐसा कहकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
nāciketaṃ pitā dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ duḥkha-mūrcchitaḥ | kiṃ mayā kṛtam ity uktvā nipapāta mahītale ||
નાચિકેતને પડેલો જોઈ તેના પિતા પણ દુઃખથી મૂર્છિત થઈ ગયા અને— “હાય! મેં શું કરી નાખ્યું!” એમ કહી ધરતી પર પડી ગયા.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of a parent’s conduct and speech: when one’s actions cause suffering to a dependent—especially one’s child—remorse arises immediately. It implicitly warns against careless or harsh decisions and underscores accountability within family-dharma.
Bhishma narrates that Naciketas is seen lying fallen; his father, struck by grief to the point of fainting, exclaims, “What have I done?” and collapses on the earth—signaling shock, regret, and the emotional consequence of his prior act.