Shloka 65
वैशम्पायन उवाच सुरापानाद् वज्चनां प्राप्य विद्वान् संज्ञानाशं चैव महातिघोरम् | दृष्टवा कचं चापि तथाभिरूपं पीत॑ तदा सुरया मोहितेन,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! विद्वान् शुक्राचार्य मदिरापानसे ठगे गये थे और उस अत्यन्त भयानक परिस्थितिको पहुँच गये थे, जिसमें तनिक भी चेत नहीं रह जाता। मदिरासे मोहित होनेके कारण ही वे उस समय अपने मनके अनुकूल चलनेवाले प्रिय शिष्य ब्राह्मगकुमार कचको भी पी गये थे। यह सब देख और सोचकर वे महानुभाव कविपुत्र शुक्र कुपित हो उठे। मदिरापानके प्रति उनके मनमें क्रोध और घृणाका भाव जाग उठा और उन्होंने ब्राह्मणोंका हित करनेकी इच्छासे स्वयं इस प्रकार घोषणा की--
vaiśampāyana uvāca
surāpānād vacanāṁ prāpya vidvān saṁjñānāśaṁ caiva mahāti-ghoram |
dṛṣṭvā kacaṁ cāpi tathābhirūpaṁ pītaṁ tadā surayā mohitena ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having fallen into the vice of drinking liquor, the learned one reached a most dreadful state—the loss of all awareness. Deluded by wine, he even consumed Kaca, that handsome and beloved disciple who moved in accordance with his wishes. Seeing and reflecting on this, the illustrious son of the seer (Śukra) became enraged; disgust and anger toward intoxication arose in his mind, and, wishing the welfare of the brāhmaṇas, he proceeded to make a public declaration.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Intoxication (surāpāna) leads to the collapse of discernment and can drive even the learned into grievous, socially destructive acts; therefore, restraint and ethical regulation—especially for those tasked with upholding dharma—are emphasized.
Vaiśampāyana recounts that Śukra, deluded by liquor, lost consciousness and ended up consuming his disciple Kaca; upon realizing the horror of what occurred, Śukra becomes angry at drinking and prepares to proclaim a rule for the welfare of brāhmaṇas.