Shloka 4
Āstīka-śravaṇa-prastāvaḥ
Prelude to the Account of Āstīka) | Chapter 12 (Ādi Parva
सौतिर्वाच रुरुश्षापि वनं सर्व पर्यधावत् समन्ततः । तमृषिं नष्टमन्विच्छन् संश्रान्तो न््यपतद् भुवि,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--तदनन्तर रुरु वहाँ अदृश्य हुए मुनिकी खोजमें उस वनके भीतर सब ओर दौड़ता रहा और अन्तमें थककर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
Sautir uvāca—Ruruḥ śāpī vanaṁ sarvaṁ paryadhāvat samantataḥ | tam ṛṣiṁ naṣṭam anvicchan saṁśrānto nyapatad bhuvi ||
Dijo Sauti: Después de esto, Ruru, impulsado por la consecuencia de la maldición, corrió por el bosque en todas direcciones, buscando al sabio que había desaparecido. Agotado por la persecución infructuosa, al fin se desplomó sobre la tierra.
डुण्ड्रुभ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of a śāpa (curse) and, more broadly, karma: when one is caught in the consequences of prior actions, frantic effort without clarity can end in exhaustion and suffering. It implicitly urges restraint, discernment, and dharmic conduct to avoid such entanglement.
Sauti narrates that Ruru runs throughout the forest in all directions looking for a sage who has disappeared. Unable to find him and worn out by the search, Ruru collapses on the ground.