Shloka 5
धृतराष्ट्रदर्शनाय पाण्डवानां प्रयाणम् | The Pāṇḍavas Prepare to Visit Dhṛtarāṣṭra
ततः शापभयाद् विप्रमवोचं पुनरेव तम् । एवमस्त्विति च प्राह पुनरेव स मे द्विज:,उनकी बात सुनकर मैंने शापके भयसे पुनः उन ब्रह्मर्षिसि कहा--“भगवन्! ऐसा ही हो।' तब वे ब्राह्मणदेवता फिर मुझसे बोले--
tataḥ śāpabhayād vipram avocaṃ punar eva tam | evam astv iti ca prāha punar eva sa me dvijaḥ ||
Then, out of fear of a curse, I addressed that brahmin again and said, “So be it.” Hearing this, that twice-born sage spoke to me once more—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and social-religious force attributed to a brahmin’s speech: fearing a curse, the speaker responds with humility and assent. It underscores restraint, respect for ascetic authority, and the ethical idea that words—especially those of the spiritually potent—carry consequences.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that, fearing the possibility of being cursed, he addresses the brahmin again and agrees—“So be it.” The brahmin, satisfied or continuing the exchange, then speaks to him once more, moving the episode forward.