Shloka 6
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
मुहूर्तमरणास्त्वन्ये मानुषा मृगपक्षिण: । तैर्यग्योन्याक्ष॒ ये चान्ये जीवलोकचरास्तथा
muhūrtamaraṇās tv anye mānuṣā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | tairyyagyonīyākṣā ye cānye jīvalokacarās tathā ||
Wika ni Kaṇva: “May mga nilalang na namamatay sa isang kisap—mga tao, hayop, at ibon. Gayundin, yaong mga isinilang sa mababang anyo (sa sinapupunan ng hayop) at iba pang nilalang na gumagala sa daigdig ng may buhay ay nakakatagpo rin ng gayong biglaang kamatayan.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the fragility of embodied life: across species—human, animal, bird—death can arrive suddenly. Ethically, it supports sobriety, non-attachment, and urgency in practicing dharma rather than complacency.
Kaṇva is reflecting on the condition of living beings, emphasizing that many creatures are moment-lived and subject to swift death, as part of a broader admonition meant to shape right judgment and conduct.