Mahabharata 1.74.39 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 74, Shloka 39
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
पुन्नाम्नो नरकाद् यस्मात् पितरं त्रायते सुतः । तस्मात् पुत्र इति प्रोक्त: स्वयमेव स्वयम्भुवा,“पुत्र” “पुत” नामक नरकसे पिताका त्राण करता है, इसलिये साक्षात् ब्रह्माजीने उसे “पुत्र” कहा है
punnāmno narakād yasmāt pitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ | tasmāt putra iti proktaḥ svayam eva svayambhuvā ||
دُشیَنت نے کہا—چونکہ بیٹا ‘پُنّنام’ نامی دوزخ سے باپ کو بچاتا ہے، اس لیے خود سویمبھُو (برہما) نے اسے ‘پُتر’ کہا ہے۔
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes pitṛdharma: a son is not merely a biological heir but one who bears responsibility to protect and uplift his father/ancestors, especially through dharmic conduct and ancestral rites. The traditional etymology links ‘putra’ with delivering the father from ‘Puṇnāma’ hell, underscoring filial duty and continuity of lineage.
King Duṣyanta is speaking and invokes a well-known dharma-based explanation of why a son is called ‘putra’. By citing Svayambhū (Brahmā) as authority, he strengthens the moral and social importance of having a son and fulfilling obligations toward one’s ancestors.
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