Shloka 3
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
पुरा हि नैमिषीयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके,क्रोधेन महता5<विष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान् | वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! ब्राह्मणत्वकी प्राप्ति करानेवाले उस तीर्थसे प्रस्थित होकर यदुनन्दन बलरामजी “अवाकीर्ण' तीर्थमें गये, जहाँ आश्रममें रहते हुए महातपस्वी धर्मात्मा एवं प्रतापी दलभपुत्र बकने महान् क्रोधमें भरकर घोर तपस्याद्वारा अपने शरीरको सुखाते हुए विचित्रवीर्यकुमार राजा धृतराष्ट्रके राष्ट्रका होम कर दिया था
purā hi naimiṣīyāṇāṁ satre dvādaśavārṣike, krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Long ago, at the twelve-year sacrificial session of the sages of Naimiṣa, a righteous and mighty ascetic, seized by intense anger, acted in a way that shows how even great spiritual power, when joined to wrath, can become destructive and morally consequential.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral tension: even a dharmātmā (righteous person) can be overtaken by krodha (anger). In epic ethics, anger is a force that can hijack tapas and power, turning spiritual potency toward harmful outcomes, thereby creating grave karmic and social consequences.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recalls an earlier event that occurred during a twelve-year satra at Naimiṣa. A powerful, righteous figure became overwhelmed by great anger—setting up the backstory for a consequential act that follows in the surrounding passage.