Shloka 44
द्रौपदी-स्वयंवर-प्रारम्भः
Commencement of Draupadī’s Svayaṃvara
चक्रे चात्मविनाशाय बुद्धिं स मुनिसत्तम: । न त्वेव कौशिकोच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वर:,उस समय (अपनी पुत्रवधुओंके दुःखसे दुःखित हो) वसिष्ठने अपने शरीरको त्याग देनेका विचार कर लिया; परंतु विश्वामित्रका मूलोच्छेद करनेकी बात बुद्धि-मानोंमें श्रेष्ठ मुनिवर वसिष्ठके मनमें ही नहीं आयी
cakre cātmavināśāya buddhiṁ sa munisattamaḥ | na tveva kauśikocchedaṁ mene matimatāṁ varaḥ ||
Der erhabenste der Weisen, Vasiṣṭha, vom Schmerz überwältigt, fasste den Entschluss zur Selbstvernichtung. Doch der Beste unter den Verständigen hegte nicht einmal den Gedanken, Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) mit der Wurzel auszurotten.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in extreme grief, a dharmic person restrains hostile intent: Vasiṣṭha may fall into despair about his own life, but he does not cultivate the destructive wish to annihilate his rival. The verse upholds non-malevolence and self-control over vengeance.
In the aftermath of suffering connected with his family (as implied by the surrounding narrative), Vasiṣṭha forms a resolve toward self-destruction. However, he does not consider ‘uccheda’—the total extermination—of Kauśika (Viśvāmitra), indicating his refusal to retaliate with annihilating hatred.