Shloka 18

नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः

Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

देवानिष्टवा तपस्तप्त्वा कृपणै: पुत्रगृद्धिभि: । दश मासान्‌ परिधृता जायन्ते कुलपांसना:

Transliteration

devāniṣṭvā tapastaptvā kṛpaṇaiḥ putragṛddhibhiḥ | daśa māsān paridhṛtā jāyante kulapāṃsanāḥ ||

Translation

نارد نے کہا—دیوتاؤں کی پوجا اور تپسیا کرنے کے بعد بھی، بیٹے کی لالچ میں مبتلا وہ بےچارے لوگ دس ماہ تک حمل اٹھاتے ہیں؛ مگر پیدا ہوتے ہیں خاندان کو آلودہ کرنے والے—کُل پانسَن، یعنی نسب کو رسوا کرنے والے بچے۔

Word by Word

देवान्the gods

इष्ट्वाhaving worshipped/sacrificed to

तपःausterity, penance

तप्त्वाhaving performed (austerity)

कृपणैःby/with wretched, miserly (persons)

पुत्रगृद्धिभिःby those greedy for sons

दशten

मासान्months

परिधृताःbeing carried/borne (in the womb)

जायन्तेare born

कुलपांसनाःdefilers/disgraces of the family

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

devas (the gods)

putra (sons/offspring)

kula (lineage/family)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Merit from worship and austerity is undermined when driven by selfish craving—especially obsession with having sons. Intention matters: attachment and greed can yield harmful outcomes, producing descendants who disgrace the family rather than uphold dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is admonishing a mindset that treats religious acts and austerities as tools to obtain sons. He warns that such pitiable, desire-driven striving can result in offspring who become a burden and a stain upon the lineage.