Shloka 72
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
कि ते धनेन कि बन्धुभिस्ते कि ते पुत्रै: पुत्रक यो मरिष्यसि । आत्मानमन्विच्छ गुहां प्रविष्ट पितामहास्ते क्व गताश्ष सर्वे,बेटा! जब तुम्हें एक दिन मरना ही है, तब धन, बन्धु और पुत्र आदिसे तुम्हें क्या लेना है; अतः तुम हृदयरूपी गुफामें छिपे हुए आत्मतत्त्वका अनुसंधान करो। सोचो तो सही; आज तुम्हारे सारे पूर्वज--पितामह कहाँ चले गये?
ki te dhanena ki bandhubhis te ki te putraiḥ putraka yo mariṣyasi | ātmānam anviccha guhāṁ praviṣṭa pītāmahās te kva gatāś ca sarve ||
ପୁତ୍ର! ଯେତେବେଳେ ତୁମକୁ ଏକଦିନ ମରିବାକୁ ହେବ, ତେବେ ଧନର କ’ଣ ଉପକାର? ବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କର କ’ଣ? ପୁଅମାନଙ୍କର କ’ଣ? ତେଣୁ ହୃଦୟ-ଗୁହାରେ ପ୍ରବିଷ୍ଟ ଆତ୍ମତତ୍ତ୍ୱକୁ ଅନ୍ୱେଷଣ କର। ଭାବ—ତୁମ ସମସ୍ତ ପୂର୍ବଜ, ପିତାମହ ଆଦି, କେଉଁଠି ଚାଲିଗଲେ?
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Since death is inevitable, external supports—wealth, relatives, even descendants—cannot ultimately secure one. Therefore one should turn inward to ātmānam anviccha: inquiry into the Self, cultivating detachment (vairāgya) and spiritual discernment.
Vyāsa addresses a younger person affectionately (“putraka”), urging a shift from worldly reliance to inner realization. He reinforces the point with a stark reminder: all ancestors have already departed, so one should not cling to transient possessions and relations.