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Shloka 4

इमे च मां कर्षयन्ति शिशवो मन्दचेतस: । अबह॒श्चविरणैहीना: पूर्वेषां न: परायणा:,ये सांसारिक ज्ञानसे शून्य चित्तवाले शिशु मुझे अपनी ओर आकर्षित करते हैं। इन्हें पाँखें नहीं निकलीं और अभीतक ये पैरोंसे भी हीन हैं, हमारे पितरोंके ये ही आधार हैं

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | ime ca māṃ karṣayanti śiśavo mandacetasaḥ | abahavaś ca viraṇair hīnāḥ pūrveṣāṃ naḥ parāyaṇāḥ |

เด็กน้อยเหล่านี้ผู้มีความเข้าใจเรียบง่ายดึงใจข้าให้เอนเอียงไปหาเขา ปีกยังไม่งอก เท้ายังไม่มั่นคง; กระนั้นเขานี่เองคือที่พึ่งและความสืบต่อแห่งสายวงศ์บรรพชนของเรา

इमेthese
इमे:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
FormMasculine/Feminine, Accusative, Singular
कर्षयन्तिdraw/drag, attract
कर्षयन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootकृष्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Plural
शिशवःchildren, infants
शिशवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशिशु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
मन्दचेतसःdull-minded
मन्दचेतसः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्दचेतस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अबाहवःwithout arms
अबाहवः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-बाहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विरणैःwith (their) sinews/veins (lit. 'fibres')
विरणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविरण
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
हीनाःdeprived, lacking
हीनाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootहीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पूर्वेषाम्of the former ones/ancestors
पूर्वेषाम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपूर्व
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
नःof us/our
नः:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormMasculine/Feminine, Genitive, Plural
परायणाःrefuge, support; those who are the resort
परायणाः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपरायण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśaṃpāyana
C
children (śiśavaḥ)
A
ancestors/forefathers (pūrveṣām)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a dharmic obligation: the vulnerable—especially children—create a moral pull on elders, because they embody the continuity and ‘refuge’ of the ancestral line. Compassion and protection are presented as duties tied to lineage and social responsibility.

The speaker (Vaiśaṃpāyana) describes being emotionally drawn by helpless children. Though immature and physically weak, they are portrayed as the sustaining support of the family’s forefathers—implying a reason to act with care, restraint, or protection in the surrounding episode.