शून्यमाकीर्णतामेति मृतिरप्युत्सवायते । आपत्संपदिवाऽऽभाति विद्वज्जनसमागमे ॥ ३ ॥
śūnyamākīrṇatāmēti mṛtirapyutsavāyatē | āpatsaṁpadivā’’bhāti vidvajjanasamāgamē || 3 ||
Translation
In the meeting with the wise, what is empty becomes full, even death becomes a festival, and misfortune shines like good fortune.
Word by word
- śūnyam
- what is empty
- ākīrṇatām
- full
- ēti
- becomes
- mṛtir
- (mṛtiḥ) death
- api
- even
- utsavāyatē
- becomes a festival
- āpat
- misfortune
- saṁpad
- good fortune
- iva
- like
- ābhāti
- shines
- vidvaj
- (vidvat) of the wise
- jana
- people
- samāgamē
- in the meeting
Meaning
The commentary spells out the empty place: one without kin or wealth, full of sorrow, which becomes as if filled with both. None of the outer facts need change. What changes is how they are met in the presence of those who see clearly. Death as a festival is the strongest of the three, and it is meant: for one who has learned from the wise what does not die, a death is no longer a defeat.