Mahabharata 3.137.17 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 137, Shloka 17
यवक्रीत-वधः
The Slaying of Yavakrīta at Raibhya’s Hermitage
स काल्यमानो घोरेण शूलहस्तेन रक्षसा । अगन्निहोत्रं पितुर्भीत: सहसा प्रविवेश ह,तब हाथमें शूल लिये उस भयानक राक्षसके खदेड़नेपर यवक्रीत अत्यन्त भयभीत हो सहसा अपने पिताके अग्निहोत्रगृहमें घुसने लगा
sa kālyamāno ghoreṇa śūlahastena rakṣasā | agannihotraṃ pitur bhītaḥ sahasā praviveśa ha ||
তেতিয়া শূলহস্ত ভয়ংকৰ ৰাক্ষসৰ খেদাত যৱক্ৰীৎ অতিশয় ভীত হৈ সহসা পিতৃৰ অগ্নিহোত্ৰগৃহত সোমাই পৰিল।
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear exposes human vulnerability and how one instinctively seeks refuge; ethically, it points to the broader Mahābhārata theme that earlier conduct and lack of restraint can culminate in crisis, where even sacred spaces become places of desperate shelter rather than calm practice.
A spear-armed, terrifying rākṣasa is chasing Yavakrīta. In panic, Yavakrīta abruptly runs into his father’s Agnihotra-house (the place associated with the daily fire-offering), seeking immediate protection.
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