Shloka 1.59.17
विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः (Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons)
ये दूषयन्त्यदुष्टं मां तप उग्रं समास्थितम्।भस्मीभूता दुरात्मानो भविष्यन्ति न संशय:।।1.59.17।।
teṣāṃ tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā sarveṣāṃ munipuṅgavaḥ | krodha-saṃrakta-nayanaḥ sa-roṣam idam abravīt || 1.59.16 ||
Hearing the words of them all, the foremost of sages—his eyes reddened with anger—spoke these words in fury.
"I am blameless. I have practised rigorous penance. These wicked ones who have abused (a sage like me) will be reduced to ashes.
Even the great are tested by anger; dharma is endangered when one responds to insult with wrath rather than truth-grounded restraint.
After being denounced, Viśvāmitra prepares to reply, and the narration notes his anger as the prelude to a curse.
The verse highlights the tension between ascetic power and self-control—showing how tapas without calm can turn destructive.