Shloka 116
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्र नरपते: पुरा । वे मुनिश्रेष्ठ उन मृत पशुओंके ही मांस काट-काटकर उनके द्वारा राजा धृतराष्ट्रके राष्ट्रकी ही आहुति देने लगे
juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṁ narapateḥ purā | te muniśreṣṭhā mṛta-paśūnāṁ hi māṁsaṁ kāṭa-kāṭa-kṛtvā tair eva rājñaḥ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭrasyaivāhutiṁ dātuṁ pravavṛtuḥ |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Einst, bei einem Ritus, der für das Reich des Königs Dhṛtarāṣṭra vollzogen wurde, begannen die erhabensten Weisen, Oblationen für eben dieses Reich darzubringen—und verwendeten dabei nur das Fleisch bereits verendeter Tiere, in Stücke geschnitten.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical tension in ritual and governance: even when the stated aim is collective welfare (the kingdom), the chosen means can be morally compromised. It invites reflection on dharma as not merely achieving ends, but maintaining purity and right conduct in the process.
Vaiśampāyana recounts an earlier event in which eminent sages perform oblations connected to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s realm, using pieces of meat from already-dead animals. The detail emphasizes the unsettling nature of the rite and frames it as a significant, morally charged episode.