देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
गता त्रिरष्टवर्षता ध्रुवोडसि पठचविंशक: । कुरुष्व धर्मसंचयं वयो हि तेडतिवर्तते
vyāsa uvāca | gatāḥ trirātra-viṃśati-varṣatāḥ, dhruvo ’si pañca-viṃśakaḥ | kuruṣva dharma-saṃcayaṃ, vayo hi te ’tivartate, vatsa ||
व्यास ने कहा—बेटा! चौबीस वर्ष बीत गए; निश्चय ही तुम पचीसवें वर्ष में हो। इसलिए धर्म का संचय करो; तुम्हारी आयु तो निरन्तर बीती जा रही है।
व्यास उवाच
Human life and youth pass quickly; therefore one should consciously build a reserve of dharma—righteous habits, duties, and merit—rather than letting time be wasted.
Vyāsa addresses a younger person affectionately, marking his age and urging him to take life seriously by practicing dharma now, since time is continuously moving on.