Shloka 58
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
तान् विसृज्य च मां प्राह पिता सास्राविलेक्षण: । प्रणमन्तं परिष्वज्य मूर्ध्न्युपाप्राय पाण्डव
tān visṛjya ca māṃ prāha pitā sāśrāvilekṣaṇaḥ | praṇamantaṃ pariṣvajya mūrdhny upāghrāya pāṇḍava ||
彼らを退けたのち、父は――涙に曇る眼差しのまま――私に語りかけた。私が敬って頭を垂れると、父は私を抱きしめ、頭頂に口づけした、ああパーンドゥの子よ。この光景は、父のやわらかな慈愛と、別離に伴う倫理の重みを示す。務めはなお前へと運ばれるが、それは祝福と自制、そして胸奥からの憐れみによって清められ、聖なるものとなる。
गालव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct within family life: reverence shown by the son through praṇāma, and the father’s compassionate blessing through embrace and a kiss on the head. Duty and separation are tempered by affection, restraint, and the transmission of moral support.
Gālava recounts that after others were sent away, his father—tearful—addressed him. As Gālava bowed, the father embraced him and kissed his head, indicating an emotionally charged farewell and a blessing before the next step in Gālava’s undertaking.