Shloka 24
ययातेर्वानप्रस्थतपःस्वर्गारोहणम् | Yayāti’s Vānaprastha Austerities and Ascent to Heaven
देवयान्युवाच कथमाशीविषात् सर्पाज्ज्वलनात् सर्वतोमुखात् | दुराधर्षतरो विप्र इत्यात्थ पुरुषर्षभ,देवयानीने कहा--पुरुषप्रवर! ब्राह्मण विषधर सर्प और सब ओरसे प्रज्वलित होनेवाली अग्निसे भी दुर्धर्ष एवं भयंकर है, यह बात आपने कैसे कही?
Devayāny uvāca: katham āśīviṣāt sarpāj jvalanāt sarvatomukhāt | durādharṣataro vipra ity āttha puruṣarṣabha ||
Devayānī sprach: „O Bester der Männer, wie kamst du dazu zu sagen, ein Brāhmaṇa sei noch furchtbarer—schwerer anzugreifen—als eine giftige Schlange und als ein loderndes Feuer, das nach allen Seiten aufflammt?“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethical idea that a brāhmaṇa’s power—rooted in knowledge, restraint, and especially speech (blessing/curse, counsel)—can be more consequential than physical dangers like poison or fire; therefore one should approach such authority with respect and caution.
Devayānī challenges a prior statement addressed to a ‘best of men,’ asking how he could claim that a brāhmaṇa is more formidable than a deadly snake or an all-consuming fire; it sets up an explanation about the special potency and social-religious authority attributed to brāhmaṇas.