Shloka 23
ययातिदौहित्रपुण्यसमुच्चयः | Yayāti and the Grandsons’ Consolidation of Merit
स्पृष्टवा मूर्थनि तान् पुत्रांस्तापसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् | दौहित्रास्तव राजेन्द्र मम पुत्रा न ते परा:
spṛṣṭvā mūrdhani tān putrāṁs tāpasī vākyam abravīt | dauhitrās tava rājendra mama putrā na te parāḥ ||
அந்த புதல்வர்களின் தலை மீது கை வைத்து தவசியானவள் கூறினாள்—“அரசேந்திரா, இவர்கள் உன் பேரர்கள்; என் புதல்வர்கள்; உனக்கு அந்நியர் அல்லர்.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that familial bonds create moral obligations: one should not regard close kin as ‘others.’ Recognizing shared lineage is presented as an ethical ground for protection, care, and restraint from harm.
A female ascetic, after affectionately touching the sons on their heads, addresses a king and reminds him that the boys are his grandsons and also her sons—therefore they should not be treated as outsiders. The gesture and speech function as a plea grounded in kinship.