Shloka 45
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
पुरा कुसड्भतानि ते सुहन्मुखाश्न शत्रव: । विचालयमन्ति दर्शनाद् घटस्व पुत्र यत्परम्
purā kusaḍbhatāni te suhanmukhāśna śatravaḥ | vicālayamanti darśanād ghaṭasva putra yatparam ||
व्यास उवाच—पुरा ते शत्रवः क्रूराः सुदुर्जयाश्च सन्तोऽपि तव दर्शनमात्रेण विचालयन्ते स्म; तस्मात् पुत्र, इदानीं परमं श्रेयः प्रति यतस्व।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Past worldly power—such as inspiring fear in enemies—is not the final measure of success; Vyāsa urges striving for the ‘parama’ (highest good), pointing toward inner excellence and ultimate welfare rather than mere dominance.
Vyāsa addresses his son, recalling a time when the son’s presence alone unsettled opponents, and then redirects him from reliance on former martial prestige toward earnest pursuit of the supreme aim.