Shloka 22
परिक्षिद्वृत्तान्तप्रश्नः
Inquiry into Parīkṣit’s Conduct and the Beginnings of His Downfall
पितरस्ते5वलम्बन्ते गर्ते दीना अधोमुखा: । साधु दारान् कुरुष्वेति प्रजामुत्पादयेति च,“जरत्कारो! तुम्हारे पितर अत्यन्त दीन हो नीचे मुँह करके गड्ढेमें लटक रहे हैं। तुम उत्तम रीतिसे पत्नीके साथ विवाह कर लो और उसके द्वारा संतान उत्पन्न करो
pitaras te ’valambante garte dīnā adhomukhāḥ | sādhu dārān kuruṣveti prajām utpādayeti ca |
“你的祖先正无助地倒悬于坑中，面朝下。他们催促你：‘依正法成婚，并生育后嗣。’”此偈将婚姻与生育置于伦理义务之中，而非仅为个人欲求——以延续家族血脉来拯救祖先脱离困厄。
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes pitṛ-dharma: one should marry and beget children to sustain the lineage and repay the ‘debt to the ancestors,’ thereby ensuring their welfare.
Jaratkāru is being confronted with a vision/appeal that his ancestors are in a dire state, suspended in a pit, and they exhort him to take a wife and produce offspring so the family line continues and they are relieved.