Shloka 11
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
तस्य बुद्धिरियं हयासीद् धर्मनित्यस्य भारत । इयं सरस्वती तूर्ण मत्समीपं तपोधनम्,भरतनन्दन! सदा धर्ममें तत्पर रहनेवाले विश्वामित्र मुनिके मनमें यह विचार उत्पन्न हुआ कि यह सरस्वती तपोधन वसिष्ठको अपने जलके वेगसे तुरंत ही मेरे समीप ला देगी और यहाँ आ जानेपर तपस्वी मुनियोंमें श्रेष्ठ विप्रवर वसिष्ठका मैं वध कर डालूँगा; इसमें संशय नहीं है
tasya buddhir iyaṁ hy āsīd dharmanityasya bhārata | iyaṁ sarasvatī tūrṇaṁ matsamīpaṁ tapodhanam, bharatanandana! sadā dharme tatpara rahevale viśvāmitra munike manameṁ yaha vicāra utpanna huā ki iyaṁ sarasvatī tapodhana vasiṣṭhako apane jalake vegase tūranta hī mere samīpa lā degī, aur yahāṁ ā jānepara tapasvī muniyoṁ meṁ śreṣṭha vipravara vasiṣṭhaka maiṁ vadha kara ḍālūṁgā; isameṁ saṁśaya nahīṁ hai
Vaiśampāyana said: O Bhārata, such was the resolve that arose in the mind of the ever-righteous sage Viśvāmitra: “This Sarasvatī will swiftly, by the force of her waters, bring Vasiṣṭha—the treasure of asceticism—into my presence; and once he arrives here, I shall slay that foremost of brahmin sages. Of this there is no doubt.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension: even one described as devoted to dharma can be overtaken by anger and the desire for revenge, leading to intentions of violence against a revered sage. It implicitly warns that tapas or spiritual status without self-restraint can turn power into harm.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Viśvāmitra’s inner resolve: he believes the river Sarasvatī will swiftly carry Vasiṣṭha to him by the force of her current, and he intends to kill Vasiṣṭha upon his arrival, convinced there is no doubt it will happen.