Shloka 32
Jaradkāru Encounters the Pitṛs
Jaratkāru-Pitṛdarśana
तेनेह क्षुधितेनाद्य श्रान्तेन च तपस्विना । अजानता कृतं मन्ये व्रतमेतदिदं मम,वे तपस्वी राजा यहाँ भूखे-प्यासे और थके-माँदे आये थे। उन्हें मेरे इस मौन-व्रतका पता नहीं था, इसलिये मेरे न बोलनेसे रुष्ट होकर उन्होंने ऐसा किया है
tenehā kṣudhitenādya śrāntena ca tapasvinā | ajānatā kṛtaṃ manye vratam etad idaṃ mama ||
“I think this was done today by that hungry and exhausted ascetic—done in ignorance, because he did not know of this vow of silence of mine. Therefore, taking offense at my not speaking, he acted as he did.”
शमीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse highlights how intention and knowledge shape moral judgment: an act arising from ignorance and fatigue is different from deliberate malice. It also warns that misunderstandings—especially around religious observances like silence—can trigger anger and lead to harmful actions.
Śamīka explains that the visitor who acted offensively did so because he was hungry and exhausted and did not know Śamīka was observing a vow of silence. Interpreting the silence as disrespect, the visitor became angry and committed the act that has just occurred (contextually, the affront involving placing a dead snake).