Shloka 14
दानपात्रापात्र-निर्णयः / Determining Worthy Gifts, Recipients, and Permissible Food
मृत्युरात्मेच्छया यस्य जातस्य मनुजेष्वपि । तथानपत्यस्य सतः पुण्यलोका दिवि श्रुता:,“मनुष्योंमें उत्पन्न होकर भी इन्होंने मृत्युकों अपनी इच्छाके अधीन कर लिया है। संतानहीन होनेपर भी उनको प्राप्त होनेवाले पुण्य-लोक देवलोकमें विख्यात हैं
mṛtyur ātma-icchayā yasya jātasya manuṣeṣv api | tathā anapatyasya sataḥ puṇya-lokā divi śrutāḥ ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले— मनुष्यांमध्ये जन्म घेऊनही त्यांनी मृत्यूला आपल्या इच्छेच्या अधीन केले; आणि अपत्य नसतानाही त्यांच्या हेतु जे पुण्यलोक नियत आहेत, ते स्वर्गात विख्यात आहेत।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights inner sovereignty: through exceptional self-mastery one can become ‘master of death’ (i.e., not driven helplessly by fear or compulsion). It also teaches that spiritual merit and heavenly attainment are not dependent solely on lineage or having children; virtue and disciplined life can lead to celebrated blessed realms even for one who is childless.
Vaiśampāyana is describing a remarkable person whose will is so powerful that death is said to be under his control. He further notes that despite lacking offspring, this person’s destined meritorious heavenly worlds are well-known among the gods—underscoring the esteem accorded to his virtue.