Shloka 54
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 96 — काश्यकन्याहरणं, शाल्वसमागमः, अम्बावचनं च
Kāśī princesses taken; encounter with Śālva; Ambā’s declaration
सा तमुवाच--भ्राता तवानपत्य एव स्वर्यातों विचित्रवीर्य: । साध्वपत्यं तस्योत्पादयेति,सत्यवतीने उनसे कहा--“बेटा! तुम्हारे भाई विचित्रवीर्य संतानहीन अवस्थामें ही स्वर्गवासी हो गये। अतः उनके वंशकी रक्षाके लिये उत्तम संतान उत्पन्न करो”
sā tam uvāca—bhrātā tavānapatya eva svargato vicitravīryaḥ | sādhv apatyaṃ tasyotpādayeti |
She said to him: “Your brother Vicitravīrya has gone to heaven while still without offspring. Therefore, for the protection and continuation of his lineage, beget worthy children for him.” The statement frames procreation not as personal desire but as a duty to preserve the family line and avert the social and ritual disruption caused by a king dying heirless.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dynastic and social responsibility: when a ruler dies without heirs, producing worthy offspring to preserve the lineage is treated as a dharmic obligation aimed at protecting family continuity and the stability of the realm.
Satyavatī addresses a man (contextually, her son Vyāsa) and informs him that Vicitravīrya has died childless; she urges him to beget children on Vicitravīrya’s behalf so the royal line will not end.