Shloka 96
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
अद्यप्रभृति मे दाश ब्रह्मचर्य भविष्यति । अपुत्रस्यापि मे लोका भविष्यन्त्यक्षया दिवि,निषादराज! आजसे मेरा आजीवन अखण्ड ब्रह्मचर्य व्रत चलता रहेगा। मेरे पुत्र न होनेपर भी स्वर्गमें मुझे अक्षय लोक प्राप्त होंगे
adyaprabhṛti me dāśa brahmacaryaṁ bhaviṣyati | aputrasyāpi me lokā bhaviṣyanty akṣayā divi, niṣādarāja! |
“ตั้งแต่วันนี้ โอ้ราชาแห่งชาวประมง เราจักดำรงพรหมจรรย์ตลอดชีวิต แม้เราจะไร้บุตรก็ตาม ในสวรรค์เราจักได้โลกอันไม่เสื่อมสูญเป็นของเรา”
गाड़ेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that steadfast dharmic discipline—here, a lifelong vow of brahmacarya—can itself generate enduring spiritual merit. It also challenges the idea that only having a son guarantees posthumous welfare, asserting that personal virtue and vows can secure imperishable heavenly attainments even for one who remains sonless.
Gāḍeya addresses a fisherman and the Niṣāda king, declaring a decisive commitment: from that day onward he will maintain unbroken brahmacarya for life. He further states that despite not having a son, he will still attain imperishable heavenly realms, indicating a deliberate choice of ascetic virtue over household continuation.