Shloka 21
ययातिदौहित्रपुण्यसमुच्चयः | Yayāti and the Grandsons’ Consolidation of Merit
किमागमनकृत्यं ते कि कुर्म:ः शासनं तव । आज्ञाप्या हि वयं सर्वे तव पुत्रास्तपोधने
kim āgamanakṛtyaṃ te kiṃ kurmaḥ śāsanaṃ tava | ājñāpyā hi vayaṃ sarve tava putrās tapodhane ||
“ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਆਗਮਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਸੇਵਾ-ਸਤਕਾਰ ਕਰੀਏ? ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰੀਏ? ਤਪੋਧਨੇ, ਅਸੀਂ ਸਭ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਹਾਂ; ਅਸੀਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਆਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਹਾਂ।”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic conduct through humility, proper hospitality toward a revered ascetic, and readiness to follow righteous instruction—framing obedience as a voluntary ethical commitment rather than mere submission.
Nārada speaks on behalf of a group, addressing a powerful ascetic as their spiritual superior, asking what reception-rites should be performed and what orders they should execute, declaring themselves as his ‘sons’—i.e., dependents or disciples under his guidance.