Adhyāya 108: Paścima-dik—Varuṇa’s Realm, Sunset Cosmology, and Sacred-Geographic Markers
Suparṇa–Gālava संवाद
एषा दिक् सा द्विजश्रेष्ठ यां सर्व: प्रतिपद्यते । वृता त्वनवबोधेन सुखं तेन न गम्यते
eṣā dik sā dvijaśreṣṭha yāṁ sarvaḥ pratipadyate | vṛtā tv anavabodhena sukhaṁ tena na gamyate ||
हे विप्रवर! यही वह दिशा है जिसमें मृत्यु के बाद सभी प्राणियों को जाना पड़ता है। पर यह अज्ञान के आवरण से ढकी रहती है; इसलिए इस मार्ग पर सुखपूर्वक यात्रा नहीं हो पाती।
युपर्ण उवाच
The verse teaches that the post-death journey is universal, but it becomes difficult and joyless when obscured by ignorance; clarity of understanding (right knowledge and discernment) is implied as the means to face inevitable transitions with steadiness.
Yuparṇa addresses a learned brāhmaṇa, pointing out a particular ‘direction’ or course that all beings must take after death, and explains why it is hard to traverse—because it is shrouded in non-understanding.