Shloka 37
अहिंसा-प्रधान धर्मविचारः
Ahiṃsā as the Superior Dharma: Practical and Scriptural Reasoning
सा वै तदा मृत्युसंज्ञापदेशा भीता शापाद् बाढमित्यब्रवीत् तम् । अथो प्राणान् प्राणिनामन्तकाले कामक्रोधौ प्राप्य निर्मोह्म हन्ति
sā vai tadā mṛtyu-saṃjñā-padeśā bhītā śāpād bāḍham ity abravīt tam | atho prāṇān prāṇinām anta-kāle kāma-krodhau prāpya nirmoham hanti ||
Тогда она — назначенная и наречённая именем «Смерть», устрашённая проклятием, сказала ему: «Да будет так; я принимаю твой приказ». И с тех пор, когда приходит последний час живых существ, Смерть приближается, возбуждая желание и гнев, и через них поражает тварей, ввергая их в омрачение, и умерщвляет.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links the moment of death with inner forces—desire (kāma) and anger (krodha)—showing how ethical and psychological disturbances can cloud discernment (moha). It implies that self-mastery over these impulses is central to dharma and to meeting life’s end with clarity rather than delusion.
Death, personified as a woman appointed to the role, accepts the command given to her (in the surrounding story, by Brahmā) and, at the destined end-time of beings, brings about their death by activating desire and anger, which then overwhelm them with delusion.