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Shloka 6

शोक-शमन उपदेशः

Instruction on the Pacification of Grief

निर्मासैरस्थिभूयिष्ठेगात्रि: सनायुनिबन्धनै: । कि विशेषं प्रपश्यन्ति तत्र तेषां परे जना:,जब दिद्वान्‌-मूर्ख, धनवान्‌ और निर्धन सभी श्मशान-भूमिमें जाकर निश्चिन्त सो जाते हैं, उस समय उनके मांसरहित नाड़ियोंसे बँधे हुए तथा अस्थिबहुल अंगोंको देखकर क्‍या दूसरे लोग वहाँ उनमें कोई ऐसा अन्तर देख पाते हैं, जिससे वे उनके कुल और रूपकी विशेषताको समझ सकें; फिर भी वे मनुष्य एक-दूसरेको क्‍यों चाहते हैं? इसलिये कि उनकी बुद्धि ठगी गयी है

nirmāṃsair asthibhūyiṣṭhair gātraiḥ snāyunibandhanaiḥ | ki viśeṣaṃ prapaśyanti tatra teṣāṃ pare janāḥ ||

毗度罗说道:“当尸身卧于火葬之地——肉已剥尽,骨多于余,仅以筋腱相系——旁人还能在那儿真正看出什么分别的标记吗?谁还能辨认门第、容貌或尊卑?然而在生之时,人们仍彼此执著,仿佛这些差别确有其事——因为他们的理解已被欺诳。”

निर्मासैःwith fleshless (ones)
निर्मासैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्मांस
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
अस्थिभूयिष्ठैःwith bone-abundant (ones)
अस्थिभूयिष्ठैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअस्थि-भूयिष्ठ
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
गात्रैःwith limbs/bodies
गात्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगात्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
सनायुनिबन्धनैःbound/fastened by sinews
सनायुनिबन्धनैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootस्नायु-निबन्धन
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
किम्what
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विशेषम्distinction, difference
विशेषम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविशेष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रपश्यन्तिthey clearly see
प्रपश्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र√पश्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
परेother (people)
परे:
Karta
TypeAdjective (substantive)
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
Ś
śmaśāna (cremation-ground, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

Vidura highlights the impermanence and sameness of all bodies at death: once flesh and social markers vanish, no real distinction of beauty, wealth, or lineage remains. Therefore, excessive attachment and pride in status are forms of delusion; wisdom lies in seeing beyond bodily and social differences.

In the Stree Parva’s aftermath of the Kurukṣetra war, amid mourning and the sight of death, Vidura speaks to redirect the mind from grief and worldly fixation toward discernment. He uses the image of the cremation-ground to question why humans cling to distinctions that cannot survive death.