Shloka 14
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत् सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे । अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्र धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasmiṁs tu vidhivat satre sampravṛtte sudāruṇe | akṣīyata tato rāṣṭra dhṛtarāṣṭrasya pārthiva | krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh rey, cuando aquella sesión sacrificial, terriblemente feroz, comenzó conforme al debido orden ritual, desde ese mismo momento el reino de Dhṛtarāṣṭra empezó a consumirse. Pues el asceta justo y poderoso—poseído por una gran ira—puso en marcha un rito cuya fuerza devoraba el dominio.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even actions performed with full ritual correctness (vidhivat) can become ethically destructive when driven by intense anger; power without inner restraint turns into a force that erodes social and political order.
A fearsome satra (extended sacrificial rite) begins, and from its commencement Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s realm is said to diminish—implying that the rite, propelled by a wrathful yet powerful ascetic, has tangible consequences for the kingdom.