Shloka 20
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 53: Arjuna’s Jayadratha-vadha Pratijñā and Droṇa’s Protective Vyūha (शकटा-पद्म व्यूहः)
तामाहूय तदा देवो लोकादिनिधनेश्वर: । (उक्तवान् मधुरं वाक््यं सान्त्वयित्वा पुन: पुनः ।) मृत्यो इति महीपाल जहि चेमा: प्रजा इति,महीपाल! उस समय सम्पूर्ण लोकोंके आदि और अन्तके स्वामी ब्रह्माजीने उस नारीको अपने पास बुलाकर उसे बारंबार सान्त्वना देते हुए मधुर वाणीमें “मृत्यो” (हे मृत्यु) कह करके पुकारा और कहा--“तू इन समस्त प्रजाओंका संहार कर
tām āhūya tadā devo lokādinidhaneśvaraḥ | (uktavān madhuraṃ vākyaṃ sāntvayitvā punaḥ punaḥ |) mṛtyo iti mahīpāla jahi cemāḥ prajā iti ||
そのとき、諸世界の始まりと終わりを司る神は彼女を呼び寄せ、幾度も慰めつつ甘き言葉で告げた。「おおムリティユ（死）よ、これらの衆生を滅ぼせ。」
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents death as an ordained duty within dharma: destruction of beings is not merely violence but a necessary function for maintaining cosmic balance, administered under divine authority and tempered by compassion (consolation and sweet speech).
Nārada narrates that Brahmā, described as lord of the worlds’ origin and end, summons a female figure (contextually Mṛtyu/Death) and, after repeatedly consoling her, instructs her—addressed as “Mṛtyu”—to carry out the destruction of creatures.