Mahabharata 3.138.8 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 138, Shloka 8
भरद्वाजपुत्रवधः
The Slaying of Bharadvāja’s Son and the Sage’s Lament
ततः स विहताशो<त्र जलकामो<शुचिर्ध्रुवम् । निहतः सो$तिवेगेन शूलहस्तेन रक्षसा
tataḥ sa vihatāśo ’tra jalakāmo ’śucir dhruvam | nihataḥ so ’tivegena śūlahastena rakṣasā ||
Then, here, he became utterly despondent. Being impure and certainly desiring water for purification, he had come to this place; but because I prevented him, he lost hope. In that condition, the spear-wielding rākṣasa struck him with great force and killed him.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of allowing rightful acts of purification and duty to proceed; obstructing such a need can lead to despair and expose a person to harm, while predatory violence often strikes when someone is weakened or distressed.
A person, described as ritually impure, comes seeking water for purification. He is prevented (by the speaker’s agency), becomes hopeless, and in that vulnerable state a spear-bearing rākṣasa attacks with great force and kills him.
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