Shloka 35
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
इमं हत्वा गृहीत्वा च यास्ये5हं समभिद्रुतम्,“अब मैं कौन-सा उपाय करके अपने प्राणोंको धारण कर सकूँगा?' इस प्रकारकी चिन्तामें वह मग्न हो गया। पुरुषसिंह! तदनन्तर मार्गमें भोजनके लिये कुछ भी न देखकर उस कृतघ्नने मन-ही-मन इस प्रकार विचार किया--'यह बगुलोंका राजा राजधर्मा मेरे पास ही तो है। यह मांसका एक बहुत बड़ा ढेर है। इसीको मारकर ले लूँ और शीचघ्रतापूर्वक यहाँसे चल दूँ”
imaṁ hatvā gṛhītvā ca yāsye ’haṁ samabhidrutam
“આને મારીને અને પકડીને હું તરત જ, ઝડપથી નીકળી જઈશ.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Need and fear do not justify adharma: betraying a protector or benefactor is condemned as kṛtaghnatā (ingratitude). The episode highlights that dharma includes gratitude, restraint, and fidelity to trust, even under pressure.
A desperate, hungry man finds no food on the road and decides to kill and carry off Rājadharmā, the king of herons who is with him, rationalizing that the bird is ‘a great heap of flesh.’ The line quoted captures his resolve to kill, seize, and flee quickly.