Shloka 123
Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka
Grief
कृष्णश्यावच्छविच्छाय: षण्मासान्मृत्युलक्षणम् । जो काले रंगका होकर भी पीला पड़ने लगे
kṛṣṇaśyāvachavicchāyaḥ ṣaṇmāsān mṛtyulakṣaṇam |
Yājñavalkya disse: “Quando a compleição naturalmente escura ou morena de uma pessoa começa a empalidecer ou a amarelecer, isso é tomado como sinal de morte iminente—não se espera que ela viva além de seis meses. Do mesmo modo, quem despreza os deuses e entra em hostilidade com os brāhmaṇas traz a mesma marca fatal.”
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical decline—disrespecting the gods and opposing brāhmaṇas—with grave consequences, and frames certain bodily changes (a dark complexion turning pallid/yellowish) as traditional omens of imminent death. The moral emphasis is on maintaining reverence and right conduct (dharma), especially toward sacred institutions.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Yājñavalkya is instructing about signs and causes associated with impending death and misfortune. He presents a prognostic marker (complexion change) and pairs it with behavioral markers (impiety and hostility toward brāhmaṇas) as indicators that a person’s end is near.