Shloka 9
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 85: Āṣṭaka–Yayāti संवादः
Merit-Exhaustion, Rebirth, and the Critique of Pride
ययातिरुवाच यत् त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वय: स्व॑ न प्रयच्छसि । तस्मादराज्यभाक् तात प्रजा तव भविष्यति,ययातिने कहा--तात! तुम मेरे हृदयसे उत्पन्न (औरस पुत्र) होकर भी मुझे अपनी युवावस्था नहीं देते; इसलिये तुम्हारी संतान राज्यकी अधिकारिणी नहीं होगी
Yayātir uvāca: yat tvaṁ me hṛdayāj jāto vayaḥ svaṁ na prayacchasi | tasmād arājyabhāk tāta prajā tava bhaviṣyati ||
Sinabi ni Yayāti: “Anak, bagama’t isinilang ka mula sa aking sariling puso, hindi mo ipinagkakaloob sa akin ang iyong kabataan. Kaya, anak, ang iyong mga salinlahi ay hindi magkakaroon ng karapatan sa paghahari.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames kingship as tied to ethical reciprocity and duty: refusal to support one’s father in a critical moment brings a lasting consequence, extending to one’s lineage, showing how personal choices can shape dynastic fate.
In the Yayāti episode, the king seeks youth from his sons to counter a curse of premature old age. Here he rebukes the son who refuses and declares that the son’s descendants will be barred from royal succession.