Shloka 11
Cyavana’s Birth and Bhṛgu’s Curse upon Agni (च्यवनजन्म तथा अग्निशापः)
तत्त्वमाख्याहि त॑ हराद्य शप्तुमिच्छाम्यहं रुषा बिभेति को न शापान्मे कस्य चायं व्यतिक्रम:,प्रिये! ठीक-ठीक बताओ। आज मैं कुपित होकर अपने उस अपराधीको शाप देना चाहता हूँ। कौन मेरे शापसे नहीं डरता है? किसके द्वारा यह अपराध हुआ है?
tattvam ākhyāhi ta harādya śaptum icchāmy ahaṃ ruṣā | bibheti ko na śāpān me kasya cāyaṃ vyatikramaḥ, priye ||
“Tell me the truth at once. Today, in anger, I wish to curse that offender. Who does not fear my curses? By whom has this transgression been committed, my dear?”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical demand for truthful disclosure of wrongdoing and the danger of letting anger drive punitive action; it also reflects the Mahābhārata theme that spiritual power (like a curse) must be governed by dharma and restraint.
Śaunaka, provoked by an offense, urgently asks to be told the exact truth about who committed the transgression, declaring that he is ready to curse the culprit and asserting the feared potency of his curses.