Shloka 4
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
त॑ समुद्रो नमस्कृत्य कृताञज्जलिरुवाच ह । मा मुज्च वीर नाराचान् ब्रूहि कि करवाणि ते,तब समुद्रने प्रकट होकर उसके आगे मस्तक झुकाया और हाथ जोड़कर कहा --वीरवर! राजसिंह! मुझपर बाणोंकी वर्षा न करो। बोलो, तुम्हारी किस आज्ञाका पालन करूँ? शक्तिशाली नरेश्वर! तुम्हारे छोड़े हुए इन महान् बाणोंसे मेरे अन्दर रहनेवाले प्राणियोंकी हत्या हो रही है। उन्हें अभय दान करो”
taṁ samudro namaskṛtya kṛtāñjalir uvāca ha | mā muñca vīra nārācān brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te ||
The Ocean, having bowed in reverence and with hands joined in supplication, spoke: “Do not release your steel-pointed arrows, O hero. Tell me—what shall I do for you?” In ethical terms, the Ocean appeals to restraint and protection of the innocent lives within it, seeking a dharmic resolution rather than indiscriminate harm.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power should be governed by restraint: even when one can inflict vast harm, dharma favors protecting innocent beings and seeking a solution through dialogue and rightful command rather than indiscriminate violence.
The Ocean appears personified, bows with folded hands, and pleads with the hero to stop shooting powerful arrows. It asks what service or command it can fulfill, implicitly to prevent the destruction of the creatures living within it.