Shloka 7
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
फेनमात्रोपमे देहे जीवे शकुनिवत् स्थिते । अनित्ये प्रियसंवासे कं स्वपिषि पुत्रक,बेटा! यह शरीर जलके फेनकी तरह क्षणभंगुर है। इसमें जीव पक्षीकी तरह बसा हुआ है और यह प्रियजनोंका सहवास भी सदा रहनेवाला नहीं है। फिर भी तुम क्यों सोये पड़े हो?
phenamātropame dehe jīve śakunivat sthite | anitye priyasaṃvāse kaṃ svapiṣi putraka ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: “O mahal kong anak, ang katawang ito’y panandalian na gaya ng bula sa tubig. Sa loob nito, ang nabubuhay na sarili’y naninirahan na parang ibong dumadapo lamang. Maging ang pagsasama ng mga minamahal ay hindi rin nagtatagal. Batid ang kawalang-tatag na ito, bakit ka nakahiga’t natutulog—bakit nananatiling pabaya at walang kilos?”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches impermanence: the body is momentary like foam, and even beloved companionship does not last. Therefore one should not remain in negligent “sleep,” but awaken to dharma, reflection, and purposeful action grounded in detachment.
Vyāsa addresses a younger person affectionately (“putraka”), admonishing them for remaining asleep or complacent. He uses vivid similes—body as foam, jīva as a bird lodging within—to urge wakefulness and seriousness in the face of life’s transience.