Shloka 29
Takṣaka’s agency, Parīkṣit’s rites, and Janamejaya’s enthronement (वैयासिक परम्परा-प्रसङ्गः)
कृश उवाच तेजस्विनस्तव पिता तथैव च तपस्विन: । शवं स्कनन््धेन वहति मा शंंगिन् गर्वितो भव,कृशने कहा--शंगिन्! तुम बड़े तपस्वी और तेजस्वी बनते हो, किंतु तुम्हारे पिता अपने कंधेपर मुर्दा सर्प ढो रहे हैं। अब कभी अपनी तपस्यापर गर्व न करना
kṛśa uvāca: tejasvinaḥ tava pitā tathaiva ca tapasvinaḥ | śavaṁ skandhena vahati mā śaṅgin garvito bhava ||
Kṛśa said: “Your father, though possessed of spiritual radiance and austerity as well, carries a corpse upon his shoulder. Therefore, O Śaṅgin, do not become proud of your ascetic practice.”
कृश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Asceticism and spiritual brilliance are not grounds for arrogance; one should remain humble, remembering that outward claims of holiness can coexist with troubling actions, and pride undermines true dharma.
Kṛśa rebukes Śaṅgin, who is acting proud of his austerities, by pointing out a humiliating fact: Śaṅgin’s own father—despite being austere and radiant—has been seen carrying a corpse on his shoulder, so Śaṅgin should abandon his conceit.