Shloka 17
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 180 — Svayaṃvara-Virodha and Pāṇḍava Parākrama
Draupadī Episode
पितर ऊचु. य एष मन्युजस्तेडग्निलोंकानादातुमिच्छति । अप्सु तं मुज्च भद्रं ते लोका हाप्सु प्रतिष्ठिता:,पितर बोले--ओऔर्व! तुम्हारे क्रोधसे उत्पन्न हुई जो यह अग्नि सब लोकोंको अपना ग्रास बनाना चाहती है, उसे तुम जलमें छोड़ दो, तुम्हारा कल्याण हो; क्योंकि (सभी) लोक जलनमें प्रतिष्ठित हैं निमित्तभूतस्तत्रासीद् विश्वामित्र: पराशर | राजा कल्माषपादश्च दिवमारुह्मु मोदते “पराशर! विश्वामित्र तथा राजा कल्माषपाद भी इसमें निमित्तमात्र ही थे (तुम्हारे पूर्वजोंकी मृत्युमें तो प्रारब्ध ही प्रधान है)। इस समय तुम्हारे पिता शक्ति स्वर्गमें जाकर आनन्द भोगते हैं
pitaras ūcuḥ | ya eṣa manyujas te ’gnilokān ādātum icchati | apsu taṃ muñca bhadraṃ te lokā hy apsu pratiṣṭhitāḥ | nimittabhūtas tatrāsīd viśvāmitraḥ parāśaraḥ | rājā kalmāṣapādaś ca divam āruhyamodate |
The Pitṛs said: “O Aurva, the fire born of your wrath that seeks to consume all the worlds—release it into the waters. May you be well; for the worlds are established upon the waters. In this matter, Parāśara and Viśvāmitra, and King Kalmāṣapāda too, were only instrumental causes; destiny was the chief factor in your forefathers’ death. Even now your father Śakti has ascended to heaven and rejoices there.”
ऑर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked anger can become universally destructive; it must be restrained and redirected in harmony with cosmic stability. The Pitṛs also emphasize that apparent agents are often only instruments, while destiny/karma plays a decisive role—so grief and vengeance should not overturn dharma.
Aurva’s wrath has generated a fire that threatens to consume the worlds. The Pitṛs intervene, urging him to cast that fire into the waters because the worlds are supported by water. They further counsel him not to fixate on human blame—figures like Viśvāmitra, Parāśara, and King Kalmāṣapāda were only instrumental—and they console him by noting his father’s heavenly state.