Shloka 58
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
अथेध्यानमुपादाय स पावकिरुपागमत् । मृत्युना रौद्रभावेन नित्यं बन्धुरिवान्वित:
athedhyānam upādāya sa pāvakir upāgamat | mṛtyunā raudrabhāvena nityaṁ bandhur ivānvitaḥ ||
Rồi, cầm bó củi nhóm lửa trong tay, người con của thần Agni trở về. Tử thần, trong vẻ hung bạo đáng sợ, cứ bám theo chàng không rời—như một người thân thiết tận tình bước sát sau kẻ mình yêu quý.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inevitability of death and the inescapable pursuit of consequence: even amid routine action (bringing kindling), mortality and the results of one’s destiny/karma can remain ever-present. The simile—Death like a loving kinsman—intensifies the ethical reflection that what follows us most faithfully may be what we least wish to face.
An Agni-born figure (pāvakī, ‘Agni-kumāra’) returns carrying kindling for the fire. Personified Death, in a fierce aspect, accompanies him continuously, described through a striking comparison: as though a close relative follows affectionately behind.