Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
इनके सिवा ये दूसरे जो मनुष्य, पशु, पक्षी तथा जीवलोकमें विचरनेवाले अन्यान्य तिर्यग्योनिके प्राणी हैं, वे अल्पकालमें ही कालके गालमें चले जाते हैं ।।
imeṣāṃ śeṣā ye ’nye manuṣyāḥ paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaś ca jīvaloke vicaranā anye ’nye tiryagyonayaḥ prāṇinaḥ, te ’lpakālenaiva kālasya gāle praviśanti. bhūyiṣṭhena tu rājānaḥ śriyaṃ bhuktvā āyuṣaḥ kṣaye mṛtyum upetya sukṛtaduṣkṛtayoḥ phalaṃ bhoktuṃ punaḥ taruṇāḥ pratipadyante.
Bukod sa mga ito, ang iba pang nilalang na gumagala sa daigdig—mga tao, hayop, ibon, at sari-saring nilikhang isinilang sa di-taong sinapupunan—ay mabilis na nilalamon ng Panahon. Ngunit ang mga hari, sa karamihan, matapos lasapin ang karangyaan ng kaharian, kapag napawi ang kanilang itinakdang buhay at dumating ang kamatayan, ay muling tumatanggap ng panibagong pagsilang sa kabataan, upang danasin ang bunga ng kanilang mabuti at masamang gawa.
कण्व उवाच
All embodied beings are quickly overtaken by Time, and even powerful kings—after enjoying prosperity—must face death and then reap the consequences of their actions through further births. Royal status does not exempt one from karma and impermanence.
Kaṇva is reflecting on mortality and the karmic cycle: ordinary creatures perish swiftly, while kings typically pass from worldly splendor to death and then return to embodied life to experience the fruits of merit and demerit.