Shloka 6
पाण्डोः तपः-प्रसङ्गः, ऋण-धर्मः, अपत्य-प्राप्ति-चिन्ता
Pāṇḍu’s Asceticism, the Doctrine of Debts, and Deliberations on Progeny
तस्यै स प्रददौ मन्त्रमापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया । अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनि:,दुर्वासाजीने पृथापर आनेवाले भावी संकटका विचार करके उनके धर्मकी रक्षाके लिये उसे एक वशीकरणमन्त्र दिया और उसके प्रयोगकी विधि भी बता दी। तत्पश्चात् वे मुनि उससे बोले--
tasyaī sa pradadau mantram āpaddharmān avavekṣayā | abhicārābhisaṃyuktam abravīc caiva tāṃ muniḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Considering the demands of dharma in times of crisis, the sage gave her a mantra—one connected with rites of compelling influence—and also instructed her in its proper application. Thereafter, the muni spoke further to her.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames extraordinary spiritual means within the ethical category of āpaddharma: in impending danger, protective action may be sanctioned, but it must be guided by discernment and proper procedure, not mere desire or misuse of power.
Durvāsā, pleased and foreseeing future peril, bestows upon Pṛthā (Kuntī) a potent mantra associated with compelling influence and teaches her how to employ it; he then continues speaking to her in the next passage.