Shloka 21
आस्तीक-उपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः | Introduction to the Āstīka Narrative
अनाथास्तेन नाथेन यया दुष्कृतिनस्तथा | कस्त्वं बन्धुरिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम,वह मूढ़ पुत्र उत्पन्न करनेके लिये किसी स्त्रीसे विवाह करना नहीं चाहता है। अत: वंशपरम्पराका विनाश होनेसे हम यहाँ इस गड्ढेमें लटक रहे हैं। हमारी रक्षा करनेवाला वह वंशधर मौजूद है, तो भी पापकर्मी मनुष्योंकी भाँति हम अनाथ हो गये हैं। साधुशिरोमणे! तुम कौन हो जो हमारे बन्धु-बान्धवोंकी भाँति हमलोगोंकी इस दयनीय दशाके लिये शोक कर रहे हो? ब्रह्म! हम यह जानना चाहते हैं कि तुम कौन हो जो आत्मीयकी भाँति यहाँ हमारे पास खड़े हो? सत्पुरुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ हम शोचनीय प्राणियोंके लिये तुम क्यों शोकमग्न होते हो
anāthāstena nāthena yayā duṣkṛtinastathā | kastvaṃ bandhurivāsmākam anuśocasi sattama ||
Śaunaka said: “Though we have a protector, we have become like the unprotected—like sinful men brought to ruin by their own misdeeds. O best of the good, who are you, that you grieve for us as if you were our kinsman?”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts having an external protector with becoming “anātha” through one’s own wrongdoing, implying that moral failure (duṣkṛta/karma) can nullify the benefit of support; it also highlights the virtue of compassionate concern, since the speaker wonders why a noble person grieves for them like a relative.
Śaunaka addresses a virtuous figure who is showing sympathy, expressing surprise that someone of high character would lament for them as though he were their kinsman, even though they appear to have fallen into a pitiable state like wrongdoers.