Shloka 18
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
ततः: समुद्धृतप्राणं गतश्वासं हतप्रभम् । निर्विचेष्ट शरीरं तद् बभूवाप्रियदर्शनम्,फिर तो प्राण निकल जानेसे उसकी साँस बंद हो गयी--अंगकान्ति फीकी पड़ गयी और शरीर निश्रेष्ट होकर अपरूप दिखायी देने लगा
tataḥ samuddhṛtaprāṇaṃ gataśvāsaṃ hataprabham | nirviceṣṭaśarīraṃ tad babhūvāpriyadarśanam ||
Então, ao ser-lhe arrancada a vida, cessou-lhe a respiração; extinguiu-se-lhe o brilho. Aquele corpo, agora imóvel e despojado de vitalidade, tornou-se uma visão dolorosa — imagem de quão depressa o esplendor do corpo desaba quando a força vital se retira.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence: bodily beauty and power depend on prāṇa, and when life departs, the body quickly becomes inert and distressing to behold—encouraging sobriety, detachment, and ethical living while life remains.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a person’s death: the life-breath is gone, respiration stops, radiance fades, and the body lies motionless, becoming an unpleasant sight.