Shloka 16
गन्धर्व उवाच एवमुक्तस्तया हृष्टो वसिष्ठ: श्रेष्ठ भागृषि: । अस्ति संतानमित्युक्त्वा मृत्यो: पार्थ न्यवर्तत,गन्धर्व कहता है--अर्जुन! अदृश्यन्तीके यों कहनेपर भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमका भजन करनेवाले महर्षि वसिष्ठ बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और “मेरी वंशपरम्पराका लोप नहीं हुआ है, यों कहकर मरनेके संकल्पसे विरत हो गये
gandharva uvāca evam uktas tayā hṛṣṭo vasiṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭho bhārgṛṣiḥ | asti santānam ity uktvā mṛtyoḥ pārtha nyavartata ||
The Gandharva said: Thus addressed by her, the great sage Vasiṣṭha—foremost among the Bhārgava seers—was filled with joy. Saying, “There is offspring; my lineage has not come to an end,” O Pārtha, he turned back from death, abandoning his resolve to die. The passage highlights how the assurance of continuity of one’s dharmic line can restore hope and restrain self-destructive intent.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that despair can be dispelled by reaffirming dharmic continuity—here, the assurance of progeny and preservation of one’s lineage and duties leads Vasiṣṭha to abandon a death-bound resolve.
A woman’s words (referred to as ‘her’) please the sage Vasiṣṭha; upon hearing that his line continues through offspring, he becomes joyful and withdraws from his intention to die, as narrated by the Gandharva to Arjuna.