Shloka 19
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 209: Śaraṇāgati of the Cursed Apsarases; Nārītīrtha-prasiddhi; Arjuna’s Vimocana
ततो राजन्नदृश्यद्धिऋ्षिभिश्व महासुरौ । उभौ विनिश्चयं कृत्वा विकुर्वाते वधैषिणां,राजन! तदनन्तर जब गुफाओंमें छिपे हुए ऋषि दिखायी न दिये, तब उन दोनोंने एक राय करके उनके वधकी इच्छासे अपने स्वरूपको अनेक जीव-जन्तुओंके रूपमें बदल लिया
tato rājann adṛśyad dhi ṛṣibhiś ca mahāsurau | ubhau viniścayaṃ kṛtvā vikurvāte vadhaiṣiṇām ||
Then, O King, when the great asuras were no longer seen by the sages—having hidden themselves away—those two, intent on killing them, came to a joint decision and began to alter their forms, assuming the shapes of many kinds of living creatures. The episode underscores how violent intent (vadhaiṣaṇā) drives deceit and disguise, setting adharma against the sages’ pursuit of safety and restraint.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the desire to harm (vadhaiṣaṇā) naturally leads to deceit and shape-shifting tactics, marking a movement toward adharma; by contrast, the sages’ withdrawal from sight implies restraint and self-protection rather than retaliation.
When the sages are no longer visible (having concealed themselves), the two powerful asuras confer, decide together, and begin transforming into various creatures in order to locate and kill the sages.