Shloka 41
ययाति–देवयानी संवादः
Yayāti–Devayānī Dialogue and Śukra’s Consent
वन॑ ययौ कचो वित्रो ददृशुर्दानवाश्न तम् पुनस्तं पेषयित्वा तु समुद्राम्भस्यमिश्रयन्,विप्रवर कच इसके लिये वनमें गये। वहाँ दानवोंने उन्हें देख लिया और फिर उन्हें पीसकर समुद्रके जलमें घोल दिया
vanaṃ yayau kaco vṛtro dadṛśur dānavāś ca tam | punaḥ taṃ peṣayitvā tu samudrāmbhasy amiśrayan ||
Śukra said: Kaca went into the forest. There the Dānavas spotted him; and once again, after crushing him to a pulp, they mixed him into the waters of the sea. The episode underscores the extremes of hostility and deceit used to obstruct sacred knowledge, and it frames Kaca’s ordeal as a test of steadfastness and the protection of learning against adharma.
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma tries to obstruct sacred learning through cruelty and deception, while implying that true resolve in a dharmic pursuit must endure repeated trials. It also points to the ethical tension around guarding powerful knowledge and the lengths opponents may go to prevent its transmission.
Kaca goes into the forest, where the Dānavas recognize him. They kill him in an especially thorough way—crushing him and dissolving him into the sea—so that he cannot be easily recovered, reflecting their determination to stop him from obtaining or carrying the sought-after knowledge.