Shloka 8
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
तस्मिन् सारस्वते तीर्थे विश्वामित्रो महामुनि: । वसिष्ठ॑ं चालयामास तपसोग्रेण तच्छुणु,उसी सारस्वततीर्थमें महामुनि विश्वामित्रने अपनी उग्र तपस्यासे वसिष्ठमुनिको विचलित कर दिया था। वह प्रसंग सुनाता हूँ, सुनो
tasmin sārasvate tīrthe viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | vasiṣṭhaṃ cālayāmāsa tapasogreṇa tac chṛṇu ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “At that sacred ford of the Sarasvatī, the great sage Viśvāmitra, by the fierceness of his austerities, caused the sage Vasiṣṭha to be shaken from his composure. Listen, as I recount that episode.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between ascetic power (tapas) and inner steadiness: even great beings may be tested or disturbed, and the narrative invites reflection on self-mastery, restraint, and the right use of spiritual power.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a past incident at the Sārasvata tīrtha where Viśvāmitra, through intense austerities, caused Vasiṣṭha to be shaken; he asks the listener to hear that account.