Shloka 8
Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī
Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः
अचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूप॑ द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने । ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं॑ वक्ष्यन्ति पावक,तत्पश्चात् उसने कुछ सोचकर कहा--'अग्निकुलनन्दन!” जो लोग वनमें मेरे इस रूपको देखेंगे वे ब्राह्मण-पत्नियोंको झूठा दोष लगायेंगे
acintayan mamedaṁ ye rūpaṁ drakṣyanti kānane | te brāhmaṇīnām anṛtaṁ doṣaṁ vakṣyanti pāvaka ||
Après réflexion, Mārkaṇḍeya dit : «Ô Pāvaka (Agni), ceux qui verront cette forme mienne dans la forêt accuseront les épouses des brahmanes de mensonge. Ainsi, à cause de ce qui sera vu, un blâme immérité retombera sur elles.»
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse highlights how mere appearances can generate unjust accusations; one should guard against imputing falsehood or fault to the innocent, and consider the social harm caused by misinterpretation.
Mārkaṇḍeya, addressing Agni as Pāvaka, foresees that if people in the forest see his present form, they will conclude that the Brahmins’ wives lied and will blame them; he voices concern about the wrongful reproach that would follow.