Shloka 15
सोमक–जन्तु उपाख्यानम्
Somaka–Jantu Exemplar: The Quest for a Hundred Sons
वयश्नलू समतीतं मे सभार्यस्य द्विजोत्तम | आसां प्राणा: समायत्ता मम चात्रैकपुत्रके,द्विजश्रेष्ठ! मेरी तथा इन रानियोंकी अधिक अवस्था बीत गयी, किंतु अभीतक मेरे और उन पत्नियोंके प्राण केवल इस एक पुत्रमें ही बसते हैं
vayaḥ śnalu samatītaṃ me sabhāryasya dvijottama | āsāṃ prāṇāḥ samāyattā mama cātraikaputrake, dvijaśreṣṭha ||
โสมกะกล่าวว่า “โอ้ท่านผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ทวิชะ วัยหนุ่มของข้าพเจ้าและของเหล่ามเหสีได้ล่วงเลยไปแล้ว แต่ลมหายใจแห่งชีวิตของมเหสีเหล่านั้น—และของข้าพเจ้าด้วย—ยังคงฝากไว้ทั้งหมดที่โอรสเพียงผู้เดียวนี้”
सोमक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between natural attachment to lineage (seeing one child as the sole support of life) and the broader dharmic need to govern desire, fear of extinction, and dependence. It sets up reflection on how clinging to a single heir can drive morally risky choices.
King Somaka addresses a revered brahmin, explaining that he and his wives are advanced in age, yet their lives feel bound to their only son. This confession frames his anxiety about succession and motivates the ensuing discussion and actions in the episode.