Shloka 18
परिक्षिद्वृत्तान्तप्रश्नः
Inquiry into Parīkṣit’s Conduct and the Beginnings of His Downfall
अस्ति त्वेकोडद्य नस्तन्तुः सो5पि नास्ति यथा तथा । मन्दभाग्योडल्पभाग्यानां तप एकं समास्थित:,आजकल हमारी परम्परामें एक ही तन्तु या संतति शेष है, किंतु वह भी नहींके बराबर है। हम अल्पभाग्य हैं, इसीसे वह मन्दभाग्य संतति एकमात्र तपमें लगी हुई है
asti tv eko ’dya nas tantuḥ so ’pi nāsti yathā tathā | mandabhāgyo ’lpabhāgyānāṃ tapa ekaṃ samāsthitaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Takṣaka: “Ngayon, sa amin ay iisa na lamang ang hibla ng lahi; at kahit iyon ay halos wala na rin. Kami’y salat sa palad, kapos sa biyaya; kaya ang nag-iisang nalalabing kapus-palad ay sa pag-aaskeza na lamang kumakapit.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects on the fragility of lineage and the role of fortune (bhāgya) in worldly continuity; when worldly supports diminish, the remaining heir turns toward tapas (austerity) as a stabilizing refuge, suggesting an ethical pivot from power to self-discipline.
Takṣaka laments that only a single, nearly extinguished line of descent remains among his people, and he explains that due to their misfortune that lone survivor has embraced austerity alone, indicating a crisis of continuity and a retreat into ascetic practice.