Shloka 26
विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्
Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status
रम्भामप्सरसं शक्र स्सह सर्वैर्मरुद्गणै:।उवाचात्महितं वाक्यमहितं कौशिकस्य च।।।।
rambhām apsarasaṃ śakraḥ saha sarvair marudgaṇaiḥ | uvāca ātmahitaṃ vākyam ahitaṃ kauśikasya ca ||
शक्र इन्द्र ने समस्त मरुद्गणों के साथ अप्सरा रम्भा से अपने हित का और कौशिक (विश्वामित्र) के अहित का वचन कहा।
As the period passed, Viswamitra the mighty ascetic was filled with grief, anxiety andremorse.
FAQs
Dharma critique of self-interest: speech driven by personal gain (ātma-hita) that intends another’s harm (ahita) is ethically compromised, even if spoken by a powerful deity.
Indra, with the Maruts, plans to disrupt Viśvāmitra’s tapas by deploying Rambhā as a temptation.
The verse foregrounds a lack of virtue—political expediency over righteousness—setting up the ethical tension between ascetic striving and divine insecurity.