Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

फेनमात्रोपमे देहे जीवे शकुनिवत्‌ स्थिते । अनित्ये प्रियसंवासे कं स्वपिषि पुत्रक,बेटा! यह शरीर जलके फेनकी तरह क्षणभंगुर है। इसमें जीव पक्षीकी तरह बसा हुआ है और यह प्रियजनोंका सहवास भी सदा रहनेवाला नहीं है। फिर भी तुम क्‍यों सोये पड़े हो?

Transliteration

phenamātropame dehe jīve śakunivat sthite | anitye priyasaṃvāse kaṃ svapiṣi putraka ||

Translation

ପୁତ୍ର! ଏହି ଦେହ ଜଳର ଫେନ ପରି କ୍ଷଣଭଙ୍ଗୁର; ଏଥିରେ ଜୀବ ପକ୍ଷୀ ପରି ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେଇଛି। ପ୍ରିୟଜନଙ୍କ ସହବାସ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅନିତ୍ୟ। ତଥାପି, ପୁତ୍ର, ତୁମେ କାହିଁକି ଶୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଛ?

Word by Word

फेनमात्रोपमेin (that which is) comparable only to foam

देहेin the body

जीवेwhen/while the living being (soul) is (there)

शकुनिवत्like a bird

स्थितेbeing situated/abiding

अनित्येin what is impermanent

प्रियसंवासेin the dwelling/association with loved ones

कम्whom/what

स्वपिषिdo you sleep

पुत्रकO dear son

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

putraka (addressed child/son)

deha (body)

jīva (living self)

śakuni (bird)

phena (foam)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches impermanence: the body is momentary like foam, and even beloved companionship does not last. Therefore one should not remain in negligent “sleep,” but awaken to dharma, reflection, and purposeful action grounded in detachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses a younger person affectionately (“putraka”), admonishing them for remaining asleep or complacent. He uses vivid similes—body as foam, jīva as a bird lodging within—to urge wakefulness and seriousness in the face of life’s transience.