Shloka 18
Nāvyāśrama-nirmāṇa and Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s Distraction (नाव्याश्रमनिर्माणम्—ऋश्यशृङ्गस्य विचलनम्)
अथर्ष्यशूड़ूं विकृतं समीक्ष्य पुन: पुनः पीड्य च कायमस्य । अवेक्ष्यमाणा शनकैर्जगाम कृत्वाग्निहोत्रस्य तदापदेशम्,ऋष्यशृंगकी आकृतिमें किंचित् विकार देखकर उसने बार-बार उनके शरीरको आलिंगनके द्वारा दबाया और अग्निहोत्रका बहाना बनाकर वह उनके द्वारा देखी जाती हुई धीरे-धीरे वहाँसे चली गयी
atharṣyaśūḍūṃ vikṛtaṃ samīkṣya punaḥ punaḥ pīḍya ca kāyam asya | avekṣyamāṇā śanakair jagāma kṛtvāgnihotrasya tadāpadeśam ||
Seeing that Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s appearance had altered slightly, she repeatedly pressed his body in embrace. Then, while he watched her, she slowly departed, making the pretext of attending to the agnihotra—thus continuing her calculated seduction under the cover of ritual duty.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how desire can be advanced through subtle manipulation, even by using the appearance of religious duty (agnihotra) as a cover. Ethically, it warns that ritual forms can be misused, and that vigilance and inner discipline are needed so that dharma is not reduced to a mere pretext.
A woman observes a slight change in Ṛṣyaśṛṅga (suggesting his growing susceptibility). She intensifies physical closeness by repeated pressing embraces, then withdraws slowly while he watches, claiming she must attend the agnihotra—thereby keeping him emotionally engaged and drawing him further from ascetic restraint.