Shloka 96
Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka
Grief
खण्डाभासं दक्षिणतस्ते5पि संवत्सरायुष: । जो कभी पहलेकी देखी हुई अरुन्धती और ध्रुवको न देख पाता हो तथा पूर्णचन्द्रमाका मण्डल और दीपककी शिखा जिसे दाहिने भागसे खण्डित जान पड़े
khaṇḍābhāsaṃ dakṣiṇatas te 'pi saṃvatsarāyuṣaḥ | yaḥ kadācid pūrvadṛṣṭām aruṇdhatīṃ dhruvaṃ ca na paśyati tathā pūrṇacandramaso maṇḍalaṃ dīpakasya śikhāṃ ca yasya dakṣiṇato khaṇḍitaṃ pratibhāti, te kevalaṃ saṃvatsaram eva jīvanti |
Sinabi ni Yājñavalkya: “Sila man ay nakatakdang mabuhay lamang nang isang taon—yaong, bagaman nakita na noon, ay hindi na muling makita sina Arundhatī at Dhruva; at yaong para kanino ang bilog ng kabilugan ng buwan at ang liyab ng lampara ay wari’y naputol sa kanang panig. Itinuturo ang mga palatandaang ito bilang hudyat na nalalapit ang wakas ng buhay, upang magbunsod ng pagbabantay, pagpipigil, at napapanahong pagsunod sa dharma.”
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that certain perceptual omens—no longer seeing Arundhatī and Dhruva despite having seen them before, and perceiving the full moon’s disk or a lamp’s flame as broken on the right—are traditional signs of imminent death (about a year). The ethical implication is to awaken urgency: one should turn toward dharma, restraint, and spiritual preparation rather than complacency.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yājñavalkya is describing prognostic signs (nimitta) connected with lifespan. He lists specific celestial and visual indicators and states their consequence—those who experience them are said to have only a year to live.