Shloka 23
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
बेटा! जीव अनेक प्रकारके शरीरोंमें जन्मता-मरता हुआ कभी इस मानव- योनिमें आकर ब्राह्मणका शरीर पाता है, अतः तुम ब्राह्मणोचित कर्तव्यका पालन करो ।।
vyāsa uvāca | brāhmaṇasya tu deho 'yaṃ na kāmārthāya jāyate | iha kleśāya tapase pretya tv anupamaṃ sukham ||
व्यास उवाच—पुत्र, जीवः नानाविधेषु देहेषु जन्ममरणपरम्परां गत्वा कदाचिद् मानुषीं योनिमासाद्य ब्राह्मणदेहं लभते; तस्मात् ब्राह्मणोचितं धर्मं चर। ब्राह्मणस्य त्वयं देहो न कामार्थाय जायते; इह क्लेशाय तपसे, प्रेत्य त्वनुपमं सुखम्॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the rare attainment of a brāhmaṇa body is meant for dharma and tapas, not for indulgence in kāma; disciplined hardship in this life is presented as the means to attain unsurpassed happiness after death.
Vyāsa addresses his listener as “son,” exhorting him to follow brāhmaṇa-appropriate duties and explaining the purpose of such a birth: austerity and ethical restraint now, leading to superior post-mortem well-being.