Shloka 121
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
न मृषा ब्रवीमि भूत्वा त्वमन्धो न चिरादनन्धो भविष्यसीति | ममापि शापो भवता दत्तो न भवेदिति,“राजन! मैं झूठ नहीं बोलता। आप पहले अन्धे होकर फिर थोड़े ही दिनोंमें इस दोषसे रहित हो जायूँगे। अब आप भी ऐसी चेष्टा करें, जिससे आपका दिया हुआ शाप मुझपर लागू न हो”
na mṛṣā bravīmi bhūtvā tvam andho na cirād anandho bhaviṣyasīti | mamāpi śāpo bhavatā datto na bhaved iti |
Rāma said: “I do not speak falsely. You will become blind, but not for long; before many days pass you will be free from that affliction. Now, O king, you too should make such an effort that the curse you have pronounced may not take effect upon me.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage foregrounds vāg-dharma (ethical speech): one should speak truthfully and also act to prevent harm. Even when a curse has been uttered, the speaker urges remedial effort so that destructive words do not bear fruit, balancing truth with compassion and responsibility.
Rāma addresses a king who has pronounced a curse. Rāma insists he is not lying, predicts the king’s temporary blindness and recovery, and then requests that the king take steps so that the curse directed at Rāma will not take effect.