Shloka 61

देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship

Devanagari script

प्रजापते: सलोकतां बृहस्पते: शतक्रतो: । व्रजन्ति ते परां गतिं गृहस्थधर्मसेतुभि:,गृहस्थ-धर्मकी मर्यादाका पालन करनेवाले लोग प्रजापति, बृहस्पति अथवा इन्द्रके लोकमें उत्तम गतिको प्राप्त होते हैं

Transliteration

Prajāpateḥ salokatāṃ Bṛhaspateḥ Śatakratoḥ | vrajanti te parāṃ gatiṃ gṛhasthadharma-setubhiḥ ||

Translation

ヴィヤーサは言う。「家住者のダルマの規範を守り—それを世を支える橋とする者たちは—死後、最上の行路を得て、プラジャーパティ、ブリハスパティ、あるいはシャタクラトゥ（インドラ）の世界へと至る。」

Word by Word

प्रजापतेःof Prajāpati

सलोकताम्co-residence in the same world (attainment of the same loka)

बृहस्पतेःof Bṛhaspati

शतक्रतोःof Śatakratu (Indra)

व्रजन्तिgo, attain

तेthey

पराम्supreme, highest

गतिम्state, course, destination

गृहस्थधर्मसेतुभिःby/through the bridges (supports) of the householder-dharma

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Prajāpati

Bṛhaspati

Śatakratu (Indra)

Gṛhastha-dharma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Faithful observance of gṛhastha-dharma is not merely worldly; it functions as a sustaining ‘bridge’ for society and becomes a powerful spiritual means, leading to an exalted posthumous destiny—symbolized by attaining the worlds of Prajāpati, Bṛhaspati, or Indra.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa is presenting a doctrinal evaluation of the āśrama system, praising the householder stage and declaring the high rewards promised to those who preserve its moral boundaries and responsibilities.