Shloka 25
आस्तीक-उपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः | Introduction to the Āstīka Narrative
न हि धर्मफलैस्तात न तपोभि: सुसंचितै: । तां गतिं प्राप्तुवन्तीह पुत्रिणो यां व्रजन्ति वै,तात! पुत्रवाले मनुष्य इस लोकमें जिस उत्तम गतिको प्राप्त होते हैं, उसे अन्य लोग धर्मानुकूल फल देनेवाले भलीभाँति संचित किये हुए तपसे भी नहीं पाते
na hi dharmaphalais tāta na tapobhiḥ susaṃcitaiḥ | tāṃ gatiṃ prāptum avantīha putriṇo yāṃ vrajanti vai ||
เหล่าปิตฤกล่าวว่า “ลูกเอ๋ย ในโลกนี้ ภาวะอันสูงส่งที่ผู้มีบุตรบรรลุได้นั้น ผู้อื่นย่อมไม่อาจบรรลุได้ แม้ด้วยผลแห่งธรรมะ หรือด้วยตบะที่สั่งสมไว้อย่างมากมายก็ตาม”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates the householder ideal by asserting that the ‘excellent gati’ associated with having sons (continuity of lineage and performance of familial rites) is portrayed as a distinctive attainment—one that others do not reach merely through accumulated merit from dharma or even through extensive austerities.
Śaunaka, speaking in the frame dialogue, emphasizes the exceptional value traditionally attributed to being ‘putrī’ (having a son). He contrasts this with other respected paths—ritual merit and ascetic tapas—underscoring a social-ethical viewpoint prevalent in the epic’s discourse on dharma.