Shloka 9
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
द्विजश्रेष्ठ] आपने माता-पिताकी उपेक्षा की है। वेदाध्ययन करनेके लिये उन दोनोंकी आज्ञा लिये बिना ही आप घरसे निकल पड़े हैं। अनिन्द्य ब्राह्मण! यह आपके द्वारा अनुचित कार्य हुआ है। आपके शोकसे ये दोनों बूढ़े एवं तपस्वी माता-पिता अन्धे हो गये हैं ।। तौ प्रसादयितुं गच्छ मा त्वां धर्मोडत्यगादयम् | तपस्वी त्वं महात्मा च धर्मे च निरत: सदा,आप उन्हें प्रसन्न करनेके लिये घर जाइये। ऐसा करनेसे आपका धर्म नष्ट नहीं होगा। आप तपस्वी, महात्मा तथा निरन्तर धर्ममें तत्पर रहनेवाले हैं
vyādha uvāca | dvijaśreṣṭha, āpane mātā-pitā-kī upekṣā kī hai | vedādhyayana karane ke liye un donoṃ kī ājñā liye binā hī āp ghar se nikal paṛe haiṃ | anindya brāhmaṇa, yah āpke dvārā anucit kārya huā hai | āpke śoka se ye donoṃ būṛhe evaṃ tapasvī mātā-pitā andhe ho gaye haiṃ || tau prasādayituṃ gaccha mā tvāṃ dharmo ’tyagād ayam | tapasvī tvaṃ mahātmā ca dharme ca nirataḥ sadā ||
The hunter said: “O best of Brahmins, you have neglected your mother and father. Without first obtaining their permission, you left home in order to pursue Vedic study. Blameless Brahmin, this was improper on your part. Because of grief for you, your aged, ascetic parents have even become blind. Therefore go and win their forgiveness and make them content; this will not diminish your dharma. You are an ascetic, a great-souled man, and always devoted to righteousness.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vedic learning and ascetic practice do not override one’s immediate dharma toward parents; neglecting them is adharma, and reconciliation—seeking their forgiveness and caring for them—protects and fulfills dharma.
A hunter instructs a Brahmin who left home for Vedic study without his parents’ consent. The hunter rebukes him for neglect, notes the parents’ suffering (even blindness from grief), and urges him to return home to appease them, assuring him that doing so will not harm his righteousness.