Shloka 2
Jaradkāru Encounters the Pitṛs
Jaratkāru-Pitṛdarśana
स तं कृशमभिप्रेक्ष्य सूनृतां वाचमुत्सूजन् । अपृच्छत् तं कथं तात: स मे5द्य मृतथारक:,उसने कृशकी ओर देखकर मधुर वाणीमें पूछा--'भैया! बताओ तो, आज मेरे पिता अपने कंधेपर मृतक कैसे धारण कर रहे हैं?
sa taṃ kṛśam abhiprekṣya sūnṛtāṃ vācam utsṛjan | apṛcchat taṃ kathaṃ tātaḥ sa me 'dya mṛtadhārakaḥ ||
Tumingin siya kay Kr̥śa at nagsalita sa banayad at tapat na tinig, at nagtanong: “Kapatid, sabihin mo—bakit ngayong araw ang aking ama ay may pasan na patay na katawan sa balikat?”
कृश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical communication and inquiry: one should ask even troubling questions with sūnṛtā vāc—speech that is both gentle and truthful—so that truth is sought without cruelty or agitation.
A character, after noticing Kṛśa, speaks politely and asks him to explain an alarming sight: the speaker’s father appears to be carrying a dead body on his shoulder, prompting concern and a request for clarification.