Shloka 34
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
पुत्राणां द्वे शते ब्रह्मन् कालेन विनिपातिते । अहूं राजाभवं विप्र तत्र पूर्व शतं मम
putrāṇāṁ dve śate brahman kālena vinipātite | ahūṁ rājābhavaṁ vipra tatra pūrva-śataṁ mama ||
“ข้าแต่พราหมณ์ บุตรของข้าสองร้อยคนถูกกาลเวลาคร่าชีวิตไป ข้าแต่ท่านผู้ทรงพรต เดิมทีข้าเคยเป็นพระราชา; ในกาลก่อนนั้นข้ามีบุตรหนึ่งร้อยคนกำเนิดขึ้น”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the inevitability of Kāla (Time) in bringing about loss and death, even for kings with great lineage; it frames human prosperity and progeny as impermanent and subject to fate.
Bhishma, addressing a Brahmin, recounts his past: he once ruled as a king and had many sons, yet they were ultimately destroyed by Time; he begins a personal history that sets up the moral reflection to follow.