Shloka 9
Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
स तु कामपरीतात्मा तं शापं नान्वबुध्यत । माद्रीं मैथुनधर्मेण सो5न्वगच्छद् बलादिव
sa tu kāmaparītātmā taṃ śāpaṃ nānvabudhyata | mādrīṃ maithunadharmeṇa so 'nvagacchad balād iva ||
But his mind, overwhelmed by desire, failed to take that curse to heart. As though driven by force, he approached Mādrī with the intent of sexual union—disregarding the fear of the curse and moving, under the pressure of fate and passion, toward his own ruin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked kāma (desire) can eclipse discernment and dharmic caution, leading a person to ignore known consequences; the verse highlights the ethical necessity of self-restraint and mindful regard for warnings (such as a śāpa).
The speaker narrates that the man, overcome by passion, does not heed the curse he had incurred and approaches Mādrī for sexual union, as if compelled—thereby setting in motion the fatal consequence associated with that curse.