Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 23
कुशवंशवर्णनम्
The Line of Kuśa and the Disfigurement of Kuśanābha’s Daughters by Vāyu
तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वायु: परमकोपन:।प्रविश्य सर्वगात्राणि बभञ्ज भगवान् प्रभु:।।।।
tāsāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā vāyuḥ paramakopanaḥ | praviśya sarvagātrāṇi babhañja bhagavān prabhuḥ ||
Mendengar ucapan para gadis itu, Dewa Vāyu, Sang Penguasa yang mulia dan perkasa, bangkit dalam murka yang dahsyat; memasuki seluruh tubuh mereka, Ia memelintir dan mematahkan anggota-anggota mereka karena amarah.
"O my sons, govern with righteousness so that you will acquire immense merit'. Hearing the words of the rishi, the four sons who were the best among men and revered in the world constructed four cities as their abodes.
FAQs
The verse warns that uncontrolled krodha (anger) turns power into adharma, producing harm rather than protection.
Vāyu reacts violently to the maidens’ refusal and afflicts them physically by force.
By contrast, the maidens’ restraint highlights the vice of wrath; the episode foregrounds self-control as essential to dharma.