Shloka 27
Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)
स चाश्रमस्थान् राजर्षिस्तानुवाच रुषान्वित: । यद्यहं पतितो विप्रा: शुश्रूषायां न च स्थित:,तब उन राजर्षिने कुछ कुपित होकर आश्रमवासी महर्षियोंसे कहा--'ब्राह्मणो! यदि मैं पतित होऊँ और आपलोगोंकी शुश्रूषासे मुँह मोड़ता होऊँ तो निन्दित होनेके कारण आप सभी ब्राह्मणोंके द्वारा शीघ्र ही त्याग देनेयोग्य हूँ, अन्यथा नहीं; अत: यज्ञ करानेके लिये मेरी इस बढ़ी हुई श्रद्धामें आपलोगोंको बाधा नहीं डालनी चाहिये
sa cāśramasthān rājarṣīṁs tān uvāca ruṣānvitaḥ | yady ahaṁ patito viprāḥ śuśrūṣāyāṁ na ca sthitaḥ ||
And he, filled with anger, addressed those royal sages dwelling in the hermitage: “O brāhmaṇas, if I have truly fallen—if I do not remain steadfast in service and reverence toward you—then, being blameworthy, I deserve to be quickly abandoned by you all. But if that is not the case, you should not obstruct my heightened faith and resolve to have this sacrifice performed.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker frames ethical accountability: if one truly abandons proper service and respect toward the brāhmaṇas, one is blameworthy and fit to be rejected; otherwise, others should not hinder sincere religious resolve (śraddhā) directed toward performing a sacrifice.
In an āśrama setting, a figure—angered—addresses hermitage-dwelling sages/brāhmaṇas, defending his intention to proceed with a yajña and challenging them: only if he is genuinely ‘fallen’ from proper conduct should they abandon him; if not, they should not obstruct his undertaking.