Shloka 17
नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः
Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva
गर्भाच्चोद्विजमानानां क्रुद्धादाशीविषादिव । आयुष्मान् जायते पुत्र: कथं प्रेत इवाभवत्
garbhāccodvijamānānāṁ kruddhād āśīviṣādiva | āyuṣmān jāyate putraḥ kathaṁ preta ivābhavat ||
那罗陀说道：“纵有许多人一想到受胎与分娩便心生畏缩——如同人们惧怕一条暴怒的毒蛇——他们仍会得生一位长寿之子。既如此，他又怎会‘如同死人’，仿佛被疾病或厄运击倒一般？”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the contrast between human fear surrounding conception and childbirth and the actual outcome that life can still arise with strength and longevity. It questions fatalistic thinking—if a child is born endowed with life, why presume he must become ‘as good as dead’ through illness—inviting steadiness, hope, and a more dharmic, non-panicked outlook toward life’s uncertainties.
Nārada is speaking and uses a vivid simile: people fear pregnancy/childbirth like they fear an enraged venomous snake. Yet, despite such fear, a long-lived son is born; therefore Nārada challenges the idea that the child could later become ‘preta-like’ (as if dead) due to disease or misfortune.