Shloka 19
द्रोणपर्व अध्याय ६७ — अर्जुनस्य प्रवेशः, श्रुतायुध-वधः, सुदक्षिण-वधः
Arjuna’s advance; deaths of Śrutāyudha and Sudakṣiṇa
पुत्रात् पुण्यतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथा: । अयज्वानमदाक्षिण्यमश्रि श्रैत्येत्युदाहरत्,वैत्य सृंजय! वे रन्तिदेव चारों कल्याणमय गुणोंमें तुमसे बहुत बढ़े-चढ़े थे और तुम्हारे पुत्रकी अपेक्षा बहुत अधिक पुण्यात्मा थे। जब वे भी मर गये, तब दूसरोंकी क्या बात है। अतः तुम यज्ञ और दान-दक्षिणासे रहित अपने पुत्रके लिये शोक न करो। ऐसा नारदजीने कहा
putrāt puṇyataras tubhyaṃ mā putram anutapyathāḥ | ayajvān amadākṣiṇyam aśrīśraity ety udāharat, vaiti sṛñjaya! ye rantideva cāroṃ kalyāṇamaya guṇoṃmeṃ tumse bahut baṛhe-caṛhe the aur tumhāre putrakī apekṣā bahut adhik puṇyātmā the | jab ve bhī mar gaye, tab dūsroṃkī kyā bāt hai | ataḥ tuma yajña aur dāna-dakṣiṇā se rahit apne putrake liye śok na karo | aisā nāradajī ne kahā
Narada said: “Do not grieve for your son. There have been men far more virtuous than you—indeed, more meritorious than your son—endowed with auspicious qualities, such as Rantideva; yet even they have died. If such exemplary persons pass away, what need is there to speak of others? Therefore, do not lament for your son, who was without sacrifice and without gifts and priestly fees.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Narada teaches detachment grounded in dharma: death is universal, even for the most virtuous; therefore grief should be restrained, and one should value a life of sacrifice and generosity (yajña, dāna, dakṣiṇā) rather than lamenting those who lacked such merits.
Narada addresses King Sṛñjaya, who is mourning his son. To console him, Narada cites exemplary figures like Rantideva—greater in virtue and merit—who also died, and urges Sṛñjaya to stop grieving, emphasizing the ethical weight of sacrificial and charitable conduct.