Shloka 18
Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka
Grief
निशि चाहनि चात्मानं योजयेत् परमात्मनि । प्रतीक्षमाणस्तत्कालं यत्कालं प्रेतता भवेत्
niśi cāhani cātmānaṃ yojayet paramātmani | pratīkṣamāṇas tat-kālaṃ yat-kālaṃ pretatā bhavet ||
ರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಹಗಲಲ್ಲೂ ಆತ್ಮವನ್ನು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನಲ್ಲಿ ಯೋಗಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮರಣಸೂಚಕ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳನ್ನು ಅರಿತು, ಮನೋನಿಗ್ರಹವುಳ್ಳ ಸಾಧಕನು ಪ್ರೇತತಾ (ಮರಣ) ಸಂಭವಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ಆ ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಶಾಂತವಾಗಿ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಬೇಕು.
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Continuous inner discipline: keep the mind yoked to the Supreme Self at all times, and cultivate death-awareness so that the final moment is met with steady contemplation rather than fear or distraction.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on liberation-oriented conduct, Yājñavalkya advises a seeker to practice uninterrupted meditation and, recognizing death’s forewarning signs, to remain composed and prepared for the inevitable transition.