Shloka 17
Vyādha–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Śāpa, Vṛtta-Dharma, and Counsel Against Viṣāda
Grief
मातृस्तु गौरवादन्ये पितृनन्ये तु मेनिरे । दुष्करं कुरुते माता विवर्धयति या प्रजा:,कुछ लोग माताओंको गौरवकी दृष्टिसे बड़ी मानते हैं। दूसरे लोग पिताको महत्त्व देते हैं। परंतु माता जो अपनी संतानोंको पाल-पोसकर बड़ा बनाती है, वह उसका कठिन कार्य है
mātṛs tu gauravād anye pitṝn anye tu menire | duṣkaraṃ kurute mātā vivardhayati yā prajāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Mārkaṇḍeya: May ilan na itinuturing na higit na kagalang-galang ang ina; ang iba nama’y higit na nagbibigay-halaga sa ama. Ngunit ang ina—siya na nag-aaruga at nagpapalaki sa mga anak hanggang sa ganap na paglaki—ang siyang gumagawa ng tunay na mahirap na gawain.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches ethical discernment about parental reverence: while opinions differ on whether mother or father deserves greater honor, the mother’s sustained, arduous role in nurturing and raising children is highlighted as especially demanding and thus worthy of deep respect and gratitude.
Mārkaṇḍeya is speaking in a didactic mode, offering a reflective observation on social attitudes toward parents and then grounding the discussion in lived duty: the mother’s concrete labor of upbringing is presented as the decisive consideration.