Shloka 51
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
इत्युक्तः स तु भृत्यैस्तैर्वषादर्भिश्ुकोप ह । तेषां वै प्रतिकर्तु च सर्वेषामगमद् गृहम्
ity uktaḥ sa tu bhṛtyais tair vṛṣādarbhir mahā-kopaḥ | teṣāṃ vai pratikartuṃ ca sarveṣām agamad gṛham ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ainsi interpellé par ses serviteurs, le roi Vṛṣādarbhī fut saisi d’une grande colère. Résolu à se venger de tous ces sages pour l’affront, il retourna à sa demeure, la capitale, le cœur sombre de représailles.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and the urge to retaliate arise from perceived insult, especially when directed toward revered sages. In the ethical frame of the Anuśāsana Parva, it implicitly warns that a ruler’s impulsive wrath and revenge-mindedness can lead to adharma and further harm.
After being told something by his attendants, King Vṛṣādarbhī becomes extremely angry. He decides to repay the sages’ (implied Saptarṣis’) perceived disrespect and returns to his residence/capital with the intention of taking retaliatory action.