Shloka 21
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
भगुपत्न्यो गिरिं दुर्ग हिमवन्तं प्रपेदिरे । तासामन्यतमा गर्भ भयाद् दश्ने महौजसम्,तदनन्तर भृगुवंशियोंके गर्भस्थ बालकोंकी भी हत्या करते हुए वे क्रोधान्ध क्षत्रिय सारी पृथ्वीपर विचरने लगे। इस प्रकार भृगुवंशका उच्छेद आरम्भ होनेपर भृगुवंशियोंकी पत्नियाँ उस समय भयके मारे हिमालयकी दुर्गम कन्दरामें जा छिपीं। उनमेंसे एक स्त्रीने अपने महान् तेजस्वी गर्भकों भयके मारे एक ओरकी जाँघको चीरकर उसमें रख लिया। उस वामोरुने अपने पतिके वंशकी वृद्धिके लिये ऐसा साहस किया था। उस गर्भका समाचार जानकर कोई ब्राह्मणी बहुत डर गयी और उसने शीघ्र ही अकेली जाकर क्षत्रियोंके समीप उसकी खबर पहुँचा दी। फिर तो वे क्षत्रियलोग उस गर्भकी हत्या करनेके लिये उद्यत हो वहाँ गये
bhṛgupatnyo giriṃ durgaṃ himavantaṃ prapedire | tāsām anyatamā garbhaṃ bhayād daśne mahaujasam ||
Vasiṣṭha said: The wives of the Bhṛgus fled to the mountain fastnesses of the Himālaya. Among them, one woman, terrified, concealed her mighty, radiant embryo by placing it within a cleft made in her thigh—an audacious act undertaken to preserve and continue her husband’s lineage. When the news of that hidden pregnancy became known, a certain brāhmaṇa woman, overcome by fear, hurried alone to the kṣatriyas and informed them. Thereupon those wrath-blinded kṣatriyas, intent on destroying even the unborn heirs, went there to kill the child in the womb.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical collapse that occurs when vengeance becomes indiscriminate—extending even to unborn life—while also portraying the dharmic impulse to preserve lineage and protect the vulnerable despite extreme danger.
During a violent persecution of the Bhṛgu line, the Bhṛgus’ wives hide in the inaccessible Himālaya. One woman conceals her pregnancy by placing the embryo in a cut in her thigh. A frightened brāhmaṇa woman reveals this to the kṣatriyas, who then go to kill the unborn child.