Shloka 30
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
पुरा ययातिर्वि भ्रष्टक्ष्यावित: पतित: क्षितौ । पुनरारोपित: स्वर्ग दौहित्रै: पुण्यकर्मभि:
purā yayātir vi-bhraṣṭa-kṣayāvitaḥ patitaḥ kṣitau | punar āropitaḥ svargaṁ dauhitraiḥ puṇya-karmabhiḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「昔、ヤヤーティ王は功徳が尽きると天界から落ち、大地に墜ちた。だが後に、孫たちの正しい善行によって再び引き上げられ、天界へと復帰した。これは、積み重ねた功徳も衰え得ること、そして敬虔な子孫の功徳が支えとなり得ることを示している。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Heavenly status is not permanent when one’s accumulated merit is exhausted; yet dharmic action within the family line—especially the meritorious deeds of descendants—can become a powerful support, illustrating continuity of responsibility and the ethical weight of righteous conduct.
Bhishma cites an old example: King Yayati falls from heaven to earth due to depletion of merit, and is later elevated back to heaven through the virtuous deeds of his grandsons (dauhitra).