Shloka 16
The Kuru Line, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa; Pāṇḍavas, Parīkṣit, and Future Kings
Chandravaṁśa Continuation
एवमुक्तो द्विजैर्ज्येष्ठं छन्दयामास सोऽब्रवीत् । तन्मन्त्रिप्रहितैर्विप्रैर्वेदाद् विभ्रंशितो गिरा ॥ १६ ॥ वेदवादातिवादान् वै तदा देवो ववर्ष ह । देवापिर्योगमास्थाय कलापग्राममाश्रित: ॥ १७ ॥
evam ukto dvijair jyeṣṭhaṁ chandayām āsa so ’bravīt tan-mantri-prahitair viprair vedād vibhraṁśito girā
Als die Brāhmaṇas dies sagten, ging Śāntanu in den Wald und bat seinen älteren Bruder Devāpi, das Reich zu übernehmen. Doch zuvor hatte Śāntanus Minister einige Brāhmaṇas angestiftet, Devāpi zu einem Verstoß gegen die vedischen Gebote zu verleiten; so wich Devāpi vom Veda-Weg ab, lästerte die Veden und fiel, weshalb er die Herrschaft ablehnte. Darauf wurde Śāntanu erneut König, und Indra, zufrieden, ließ Regen fallen. Später schlug Devāpi den Pfad des Yoga ein, zügelte Geist und Sinne und zog in das Dorf Kalāpagrāma, wo er bis heute verweilt.
FAQs
This verse indicates that when one is diverted from Vedic authority—especially by misguided counsel—one’s speech and judgment become distorted, leading to non-Vedic conclusions.
In the narrative, brāhmaṇas—sent under ministerial influence—became instruments in redirecting the younger from Vedic alignment, showing how even religious authority can be misused when guided by politics.
Choose guidance rooted in śāstra and integrity; avoid echo-chambers and self-interested advisors that gradually normalize compromise of core principles.