Shloka 18
और्वेण वसता छन्नमूरौ ब्रह्मर्षिणा तदा । यत् कृतं तात देवेषु कर्म तत्तेडनघ श्रुतम्,“तात! निष्पाप नरेश! ब्रह्मर्षि और्वने (माताके) ऊरुमें गुप्तरूपसे निवास करते हुए जो देवकार्य सिद्ध किया था, वह भी तुम्हारे सुननेमें आया ही होगा
aurveṇa vasatā channam ūrau brahmarṣiṇā tadā | yat kṛtaṃ tāta deveṣu karma tat te ’n-agha śrutam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Dear child, O sinless king! You have surely heard of the deed that the Brahmarṣi Aurva accomplished for the gods, while dwelling concealed within a thigh.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the authority of sacred tradition (śruti/itihāsa) and the ethical ideal of using extraordinary spiritual power for the welfare of the gods and cosmic order, not for personal display. It also frames the listener as ‘anagha’ (blameless), encouraging kingship aligned with dharma.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a king and recalls a well-known episode: the sage Aurva, while remaining concealed in a thigh, performed a significant act that benefited the gods. The speaker uses this as a remembered precedent to support the ongoing discussion in the chapter.