विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest
Southern Search
तस्य तस्मिन्वने पुत्रो बालष्षोडशवार्षिकः।प्रणष्टो जीवितान्ताय क्रुद्धस्तत्र महामुनिः।।।।
tasya tasmin vane putro bālaḥ ṣoḍaśavārṣikaḥ | praṇaṣṭo jīvitāntāya kruddhas tatra mahāmuniḥ || 4.48.13 ||
उसी वन में उनका पुत्र—सोलह वर्ष का बालक—लुप्त होकर प्राणान्त को प्राप्त हुआ; तब वहाँ महा-मुनि क्रुद्ध हो उठे।
The great sage was enraged because he had lost his sixteen-year-old son in the forest.
The verse highlights how unchecked anger arising from grief can turn into destructive action; dharma calls for restraint even amid suffering.
The backstory is given: the sage’s son dies after being lost in the forest, triggering the sage’s wrath.
By contrast (through its failure), the needed virtue is kṣamā/dama—patience and self-control.