Shloka 53
योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः
Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction
वर्तयत्येव पितरि पुत्र: प्रभवते तथा । अमित्रभृत्यतां प्राप्प ख्यापयन्त्यनपत्रपा:,बापके रहते ही बेटा मालिक बन बैठता है। वे शत्रुओंके सेवक बनकर अपने उस कर्मको निर्लज्जतापूर्वक दूसरोंके सामने कहते हैं
vartayatyeva pitari putraḥ prabhavate tathā | amitrabhṛtyatāṁ prāpya khyāpayanty anapatrapāḥ ||
纵然父亲尚在并执掌家政，儿子却已自作主张，俨然主人。又因沦为仇敌的奴役，那些不知羞耻者竟在众人前公然宣扬此等可耻行径。
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns two ethical failures: a son usurping authority while the father still lives, and people accepting servitude under enemies—then brazenly justifying it. It upholds dharma as loyalty, proper hierarchy, and moral shame that restrains dishonorable choices.
Śakra (Indra) is speaking in a didactic context within Śānti Parva, describing signs of moral and social decline: familial disrespect (the son acting as master over a living father) and political/ethical degradation (openly serving enemies without remorse).