Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 105: Rāma Consoles Bharata With Spiritual InstructionsText 2.105.31
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 105: Rāma Consoles Bharata With Spiritual Instructions
Text 2.105.31
वयसः पतमानस्य स्रोतसो वानिवर्तिनः।
आत्मा सुखे नियोक्तव्यः सुखभाजः प्रजाः स्मृताः॥
vayasaḥ patamānasya srotaso vānivartinaḥ
ātmā sukhe niyoktavyaḥ sukhabhājaḥ prajāḥ smṛtāḥ
vayasaḥ = while one’s age; patamānasya = rushes on; srotasaḥ = stream [of water]; vā = iva; anivartinaḥ = like an unstoppable; ātmā = one’s soul; sukhe = in that which will bring about happiness; niyoktavyaḥ = should be engaged; sukhabhājaḥ = attached to happiness; prajāḥ = for the subjects; smṛtāḥ = are said to be.
While one’s age rushes on like an unstoppable stream [of water], one’s soul should be engaged in that which will bring about happiness for the subjects are said to be attached to happiness.1
One’s soul should be engaged in that which will bring about happiness, that is, it should be engaged in the thought of how to prepare for a better next life for the subjects are said to be attached to the happiness that can be achieved through Vedic dharma.
Though this is the nature of the material world, Rāma then asserts in the next verse that there is no reason to even slightly lament about His father.1