Shloka 96
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
अहो बत नृशंसं वै वाक्यमुक्तो5स्मि संसदि । उनकी वैसी बात सुनकर धर्मज्ञ ऋषिने चिन्तामग्न होकर सोचा--“अहो! बड़े खेदकी बात है कि इस राजाने भरी सभामें मुझसे ऐसा कठोर वचन कहा है”
aho bata nṛśaṁsaṁ vai vākyam ukto ’smi saṁsadi |
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «¡Ay de mí! En la asamblea real se me ha dirigido una palabra verdaderamente cruel e inhumana». Al oírla, el sabio conocedor del dharma, sumido en honda cavilación, se lamentó de que un rey pudiera hablar con tal aspereza en pleno tribunal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: harsh, cruel words spoken publicly—especially by a ruler—violate dharma by injuring dignity, truthfulness, and proper conduct in the assembly.
The narrator reports a moment of moral shock: someone (a sage, in the surrounding context) has been addressed with a cruel statement in the royal court, prompting inward distress and reflection on the impropriety of such speech from a king.