Shloka 4
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
निमित्तमरणाश्षान्ये चन्द्रसू्यों मही जलम् | वायुरग्निस्तथा55काशं ग्रहास्तारागणास्तथा
nimitta-maraṇāś cānye candra-sūryau mahī jalam | vāyur agnis tathākāśaṁ grahās tārā-gaṇās tathā ||
Kaṇva berkata: “Segala makhluk lain menemui maut kerana satu sebab atau yang lain. Bahkan bulan dan matahari, bumi dan air, angin dan api, dan juga angkasa—bersama planet-planet serta gugusan bintang—semuanya fana.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches universal impermanence: death comes to all conditioned beings, and even the grand cosmic elements and luminaries are not eternal. This supports an ethical stance of detachment and sober discernment in decision-making.
In Udyoga Parva, Kaṇva speaks reflectively, emphasizing that mortality is unavoidable and not limited to humans; even cosmic entities are subject to dissolution. The statement functions as counsel meant to temper pride, fear, and rash action during the tense pre-war deliberations.