Shloka 53
योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः
Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction
वर्तयत्येव पितरि पुत्र: प्रभवते तथा । अमित्रभृत्यतां प्राप्प ख्यापयन्त्यनपत्रपा:,बापके रहते ही बेटा मालिक बन बैठता है। वे शत्रुओंके सेवक बनकर अपने उस कर्मको निर्लज्जतापूर्वक दूसरोंके सामने कहते हैं
vartayatyeva pitari putraḥ prabhavate tathā | amitrabhṛtyatāṁ prāpya khyāpayanty anapatrapāḥ ||
父がなお生きて治めているのに、子は主のごとく権を振るい始める。さらに敵に仕える身に堕ちても、恥知らずどもはその卑しき行いを人前で公然と言い立てる。
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns two ethical failures: a son usurping authority while the father still lives, and people accepting servitude under enemies—then brazenly justifying it. It upholds dharma as loyalty, proper hierarchy, and moral shame that restrains dishonorable choices.
Śakra (Indra) is speaking in a didactic context within Śānti Parva, describing signs of moral and social decline: familial disrespect (the son acting as master over a living father) and political/ethical degradation (openly serving enemies without remorse).