Shloka 16
अौर्ध्वदेहिक-श्राद्धे दानयज्ञविस्तारः | Expansion of the Aurdhvadehika Śrāddha and the Donation-Rite
वैराट्यास्तनयं दृष्टवा पितरं ते परीक्षितम् | धारयन्ति सम ते प्राणांस्तव पूर्वपितामहा:,जनमेजय! उन दिनों तुम्हारे पूर्व पितामह पाण्डव उत्तराके पुत्र और तुम्हारे पिता परीक्षितको देखकर ही अपने प्राणोंको धारण करते थे
vairāṭyāḥ tanayaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitaraṃ te parīkṣitam | dhārayanti sma te prāṇāṃs tava pūrva-pitāmahāḥ, janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó Janamejaya, naqueles dias teus antepassados—os Pāṇḍavas—mal conseguiam sustentar a própria vida; era apenas ao verem o filho de Uttarā, da linhagem de Virāṭa, teu pai Parīkṣit, que mantinham o fôlego dentro de si.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic importance of lineage and responsibility: even amid loss and withdrawal, the continuation of a righteous line (through Parīkṣit) becomes a moral anchor that restores purpose and the will to live.
Vaiśampāyana tells King Janamejaya that the Pāṇḍavas, overwhelmed by their circumstances, found the strength to endure only by seeing Parīkṣit—Uttarā’s son—whose survival ensured the continuation of their family and kingdom.