Shloka 12
तदपाक्रियते सर्व यज्ञेन तपसा श्रुतैः । तपस्वी यज्ञकृच्चासि न च ते विद्यते प्रजा
tad apākriyate sarvaṁ yajñena tapasā śrutaiḥ | tapasvī yajñakṛc cāsi na ca te vidyate prajā ||
“Seluruh kewajiban itu dilenyapkan oleh yajña, tapa, dan pembelajaran suci (śruti/Veda). Engkau memang seorang pertapa dan pelaksana yajña; namun engkau tidak memiliki keturunan.”
मन्दपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames moral-religious ‘clearing of obligations’ through three pillars: yajña (sacrificial duty), tapas (self-discipline), and śruti (Vedic learning). It also implies that fulfilling dharma is not only personal piety (austerity and ritual) but includes continuity of lineage through progeny.
Mandapāla addresses the issue of how one discharges the burdens/obligations associated with human life, affirming that sacrifice, austerity, and Vedic study remove them; then he points out a deficiency in the addressee’s life—despite being an ascetic and sacrificer, he has no children.