Shloka 57
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
भवान् हि परिपाल्यो मे सर्वदैव प्रयत्नतः । साधूनां काड्क्षितं यस्मात् पितुर्वद्धस्य पालनम्,मुझे सदा यत्नपूर्वक आपका पालन करना चाहिये; क्योंकि साधु पुरुष सदा इस बातकी अभिलाषा रखते हैं कि मैं अपने बूढ़े पिताका पालन-पोषण करूँ
bhavān hi paripālyo me sarvadaiva prayatnataḥ | sādhūnāṁ kāṅkṣitaṁ yasmāt pitur vṛddhasya pālanam ||
உங்களை நான் எப்போதும் முயற்சியுடன் பேணிக் காக்க வேண்டும்; ஏனெனில் நல்லோர் விரும்புவது—முதிர்ந்த தந்தையைப் போற்றி, பாதுகாப்பதே.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that caring for one’s parents—especially an aged father—is a primary duty (dharma). The son frames this care as a constant, deliberate responsibility and as conduct esteemed by the virtuous.
A son addresses his father (or an elder in the father’s role) and declares his resolve to protect and maintain him continually. He justifies this vow by appealing to the moral expectations of sādhus, who value the proper support of elderly parents.