Shloka 57
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
भवान् हि परिपाल्यो मे सर्वदैव प्रयत्नतः । साधूनां काड्क्षितं यस्मात् पितुर्वद्धस्य पालनम्
bhavān hi paripālyo me sarvadaiva prayatnataḥ | sādhūnāṁ kāṅkṣitaṁ yasmāt pitur vṛddhasya pālanam ||
“Dapat at nararapat na alagaan kita sa lahat ng panahon, nang buong pagsisikap; sapagkat ninanais ng mga matuwid na ako’y magtaguyod at mag-aruga sa aking amang may katandaan.” Sa gayon, pinagtitibay ng anak na ang pagtalima sa tungkulin sa magulang ay ubod ng dharma—ang paglilingkod sa mga magulang, lalo na sa kanilang pagtanda, ay huwarang asal na pinupuri ng mga banal.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that caring for one’s parents—especially an aged father—is a primary duty (dharma). The son frames this care as a constant, deliberate responsibility and as conduct esteemed by the virtuous.
A son addresses his father (or an elder in the father’s role) and declares his resolve to protect and maintain him continually. He justifies this vow by appealing to the moral expectations of sādhus, who value the proper support of elderly parents.