Shloka 1.59.18

विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः (Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons)

Devanagari script

अद्य ते कालपाशेन नीता वैवस्वतक्षयम्।सप्तजातिशतान्येव मृतपस्सन्तु सर्वश:।।1.59.18।।

Transliteration

ye dūṣayanty aduṣṭaṃ māṃ tapa ugraṃ samāsthitam | bhasmībhūtā durātmāno bhaviṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ || 1.59.17 ||

Translation

I am without fault, established in severe tapas; those wicked-minded who revile me will be reduced to ashes—of this there is no doubt.

Context

Caught by the noose of death this day, they shall be brought to the abode of Yama and for seven hundred births, feed on corpses.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha’s sons

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse dramatizes how truth-claims (satya about one’s blamelessness) can be paired with wrathful retaliation; dharma ideally requires that tapas be governed by compassion and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra responds to the insults by declaring his purity and announcing destructive consequences for the revilers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ascetic potency (tapas) is foregrounded, but the episode also underscores the crucial virtue of self-mastery in wielding spiritual power.