Shloka 20
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
ददृशेडथ ततः सर्व भज्यमानं महावनम् | तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तम:,आकर उन्होंने देखा कि वह सारा विशाल वन उजाड़ होता जा रहा है। महाराज! यह देखकर मुनिवर वसिष्ठ राजा विश्वामित्रपर कुपित हो उठे
dadṛśe ’tha tataḥ sarvaṁ bhajyamānaṁ mahāvanam | tasya kruddho mahārāja vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ |
তখন তিনি দেখলেন, সমগ্র মহাবন ভেঙে চুরমার হয়ে উজাড় হয়ে যাচ্ছে। হে মহারাজ, তা দেখে মুনিশ্রেষ্ঠ বশিষ্ঠ রাজা বিশ্বামিত্রের প্রতি ক্রুদ্ধ হলেন।
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical contrast: the sage’s moral authority reacts against destructive, rivalry-driven action. It implies that unchecked anger and competition—especially among rulers—can violate dharma by causing needless harm, even to the natural and sacred order.
The narrator reports that a vast forest is being devastated. Seeing this, the great sage Vasiṣṭha becomes angry, specifically directing his indignation toward King Viśvāmitra, indicating a conflict where royal power has led to destructive consequences.