Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 104
पितृनुद्धरते सवानिकादशसमुद्धवान् | आत्मानं ससुतं चैव स्त्रियं च भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ) वह पुरुष अपनी ग्यारह पीढ़ीमें समस्त पितरोंका, अपना तथा अपनी स्त्री और पुत्रका भी उद्धार कर देता है
pitṝn uddharate sarvān ekādaśa-samuddhavān | ātmānaṁ sa-sutaṁ caiva striyaṁ ca bharatarṣabha ||
Waiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara keturunan Bharata, orang seperti itu menjadi penyelamat garis keturunannya—ia menyeberangkan semua leluhurnya hingga sebelas generasi, dan juga menegakkan kemajuan rohani bagi dirinya, istrinya, serta putranya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that righteous conduct with spiritual potency is not merely personal; it radiates outward, bringing uplift to one’s ancestors and immediate family. Dharma is presented as intergenerational responsibility and benefit.
Vaiśaṃpāyana, continuing his narration, states a general dharmic principle: a certain exemplary person (implied by the surrounding context) is said to ‘deliver’ ancestors up to eleven generations and also benefit himself, his wife, and his son—highlighting the far-reaching fruits of virtue.