Shloka 8
Ruru’s Lament and the Lifespan Exchange for Pramadvarā (रुरु–प्रमद्वरा आयुर्विभागः)
गतायुरेषा कृपणा गन्धर्वाप्सरसो: सुता । तस्माच्छोके मनस्तात मा कृथास्त्वं कथंचन,देवदूतने कहा--धर्मात्मा रुक! तुम दुःखसे व्याकुल हो अपनी वाणीद्वारा जो कुछ कहते हो, वह सब व्यर्थ है; क्योंकि जिस मनुष्यकी आयु समाप्त हो गयी है, उसे फिर आयु नहीं मिल सकती। यह बेचारी प्रमद्वरा गन्धर्व और अप्सराकी पुत्री थी। इसे जितनी आयु मिली थी, वह पूरी हो चुकी है। अतः तात! तुम किसी तरह भी मनको शोकमें न डालो
gatāyur eṣā kṛpaṇā gandharvāpsarasoḥ sutā | tasmāc choke manas tāta mā kṛthās tvaṃ kathaṃcana ||
The divine messenger said: “Her allotted lifespan is finished; she is a pitiable one, the daughter of a Gandharva and an Apsaras. Therefore, dear one, do not let your mind sink into grief in any way. When a person’s span of life has run out, it cannot be regained.”
देवदूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses acceptance of mortality: when one’s allotted lifespan (āyus) is exhausted, it cannot be restored. Therefore, grief should not be allowed to overwhelm the mind; one should respond with steadiness and discernment.
A divine messenger addresses the grieving man (Ruru in this episode) after Pramadvarā’s death, explaining that her life-span has ended and urging him not to sink into sorrow, since what is fated by the completion of āyus cannot be reversed.