Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 31
कृपकृपी-जननम्
The Birth of Kṛpa and Kṛpī; Kṛpa’s Attainment of Astras
मृगाभिशापान्नष्टं मे जननं हाकृतात्मन: । नृशंसकारिणो भीरु यथैवोपहतं पुरा
mṛgābhiśāpān naṣṭaṃ me jananaṃ hākṛtātmanaḥ | nṛśaṃsakāriṇo bhīru yathaivopahataṃ purā ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Karena kutukan rusa itu, dayaku untuk memperanakkan keturunan telah musnah. Aku tidak lagi menguasai diriku; aku telah berbuat kejam. Wahai yang berhati lembut, sebab itu kekuatan benihku pun dipatahkan—sebagaimana dahulu aku mematahkan hidup rusa itu dengan membunuhnya dan menghalangi persatuannya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cruel, uncontrolled action (especially violence that disrupts another being’s natural life) rebounds upon the agent: the harm inflicted returns as a corresponding impairment, illustrating karmic retribution and the need for self-mastery (ātma-saṃyama).
A speaker explains that a deer’s curse has destroyed his ability to beget children. He confesses his lack of self-control and cruelty, and frames the loss as a fitting consequence—mirroring how he earlier killed the deer and obstructed its mating.