बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम् ॥
अनेकक्रतुदानौघैर् अर्जितं मे महत् फलम् ॥
कथं तद् अल्पकालेन क्षीणं येनास्मि पातितः ॥
भगवन् वेत्थ लोकांश् च शाश्वतान् मम निर्जितान् ॥
पितामह उवाच
बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम् ॥
अनेकक्रतुदानौघैर् यत् त्वयोपार्जितं फलम् ॥
तद् अनेनैव दोषेण क्षीणं येनासि पातितः ॥
अभिमानेन राजेन्द्र धिक्कृतः स्वर्गवासिभिः ॥
नायं मानेन राजर्षे न बलेन न हिंसया ॥
न शाठ्येन न मायाभिर् लोको भवति शाश्वतः ॥
bahuvarṣasahasrāntaṃ prajāpālanavardhitam ||
anekakratudānaughair arjitaṃ me mahat phalam ||
kathaṃ tad alpakālena kṣīṇaṃ yenāsmi pātitaḥ ||
bhagavan vettha lokāṃś ca śāśvatān mama nirjitān ||
pitāmaha uvāca
bahuvarṣasahasrāntaṃ prajāpālanavardhitam ||
anekakratudānaughair yat tvayopārjitaṃ phalam ||
tad anenaiva doṣeṇa kṣīṇaṃ yenāsi pātitaḥ ||
abhimānena rājendra dhikkṛtaḥ svargavāsibhiḥ ||
nāyaṃ mānena rājarṣe na balena na hiṃsayā ||
na śāṭhyena na māyābhir loko bhavati śāśvataḥ ||
'"The great fruit I acquired through many streams of sacrifices and gifts, and increased through the protection of my subjects over many thousands of years — how could it be exhausted in so short a time that I was cast down? O venerable one, you know the eternal worlds I won." The Forefather said: "The fruit that you acquired through many streams of sacrifices and gifts, and increased through the protection of your subjects over many thousands of years, was exhausted by this very fault through which you were cast down: pride, O king of kings. You were condemned by the dwellers of heaven. This eternal world, O royal sage, is not attained by pride, nor by force, nor by violence, nor by deceit, nor by illusion."'
05df6c8c93c1 · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:51:08 AM UTC
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The Forefather's answer states the story's central lesson: a vast store of merit can be exhausted by the single fault of pride. The eternal world is not held by force, violence, cunning, or deceit; it is held by a humble dharma that does not despise others.