Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 37
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
ततो<पवाहितं दृष्टवा वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
tato ’pavāhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vasiṣṭham ṛṣisattamam | śoṇitaṃ vaha kalyāṇi rakṣogrāmaṇisammatam ||
Entonces, al ver que el excelso ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha era arrastrado de nuevo lejos por la corriente, Viśvāmitra, incapaz de contener su despecho, se enfureció en su dolor y clamó: «¡Oh Sarasvatī, auspiciosa, la mejor de los ríos! Me has engañado y te has ido otra vez; por eso, en lugar de agua, ¡haz correr sangre, sangre grata a los caudillos de los rākṣasas!»
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Uncontrolled anger and humiliation can distort one’s sense of dharma, attempting to weaponize even sacred forces; the episode warns that spiritual or natural powers should not be bent toward cruelty and revenge.
After Vasiṣṭha is seen swept away by the river, the enraged speaker addresses Sarasvatī and orders her to flow with blood instead of water—an extreme curse-like command aimed at empowering destructive beings (rākṣasa chiefs).
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