Shloka 12
कच-देवयानी संवादः
Kaca–Devayānī Dialogue and the Curse on Vidyā
दृष्टवा शयानं शकुना: समन्तात् पर्यवारयन् | नेमां हिंस्युर्वने बालां क्रव्यादा मांसगृद्धिन:
dṛṣṭvā śayānaṃ śakunāḥ samantāt paryavārayan | nemāṃ hiṃsyur vane bālāṃ kravyādā māṃsagṛddhinaḥ ||
Kaṇva dit : Voyant la jeune fille étendue là, les oiseaux accoururent de toutes parts et formèrent autour d’elle un cercle de protection. Dans la forêt, les bêtes carnassières—avides de chair—ne firent aucun mal à cet enfant. La scène souligne un ordre moral où l’innocence est sauvegardée, comme si la nature elle-même retenait la violence contre l’irréprochable.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that innocence should not be violated; even in a harsh wilderness, a protective order (read as dharma or auspicious providence) restrains harm and shelters the blameless.
Kaṇva describes how, upon seeing a young girl lying in the forest, birds gathered around her as if guarding her, and carnivorous creatures did not attack her despite their natural hunger.