Shloka 12
अरणीसहितं मन्थं समासक्तं वनस्पतौ | मृगस्य घर्षमाणस्य विषाणे समसज्जत,“राजन! मैंने अपनी अरणी और मथानी एक वृक्षपर रख दी थी। एक मृग वहाँ आकर उस वृक्षसे शरीर रगड़ने लगा और उसके सींगमें वे दोनों काष्ठ फँस गये। वह महान् मृग उन काष्ठोंको लेकर बड़ी उतावलीके साथ भाग गया है और अत्यन्त वेगवान् होनेके कारण चौकड़ी भरता हुआ शीघ्र ही आश्रमसे बहुत दूर निकल गया है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: araṇīsahitaṃ manthaṃ samāsaktaṃ vanaspatau | mṛgasya gharṣamāṇasya viṣāṇe samasajjata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O King, I had set my fire-drill—both the araṇī sticks and the churning staff—against a tree. Just then a deer came and began rubbing its body on that tree; the implements became caught upon its horn.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the vulnerability of ascetic livelihood to unforeseen events and implicitly frames an ethical tension: essential tools for sacred fire and daily rites can be lost without malice, prompting a response that must balance necessity with restraint and dharma.
A fire-kindling set (araṇī sticks and the mantha/spindle) had been placed against a tree. A deer rubs itself on the tree, and the implements become lodged on its horn, setting up the ensuing episode of pursuit or recovery.