Shloka 15
Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s Luring, Rainfall at Aṅga, and Reconciliation with Vibhāṇḍaka (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यानम्)
ततः स कोपेन विदीर्यमाण आशड्कमानो नृपतेर्विधानम् । जगाम चम्पां प्रति धक्ष्यमाण- स्तमड्राजं सपुरं सराष्ट्रम,कोपसे उनका हृदय विदीर्ण-सा होने लगा। उनके मनमें यह संदेह हुआ कि कहीं राजा लोमपादकी तो यह करतूत नहीं है। तब वे चम्पानगरीकी ओर चल दिये, मानो अंगराजको उनके राष्ट्र और नगरसहित जला देना चाहते हों
tataḥ sa kopena vidīryamāṇa āśaṅkamāno nṛpater vidhānam | jagāma campāṃ prati dhakṣyamāṇas tam aṅgarājaṃ sapuraṃ sarāṣṭram ||
Then, his heart seeming to split under the pressure of anger, he grew suspicious that the king himself had engineered this deed. Burning with wrath, he set out toward Campā, as though he meant to reduce the Aṅga king—together with his city and realm—to ashes. The passage underscores how unchecked anger and suspicion can drive a sage from restraint toward destructive intent, threatening the moral order that should be upheld by both ascetics and rulers.
विभाण्डक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of krodha (anger) joined with āśaṅkā (suspicion): even a sage can be pushed toward disproportionate retaliation. It implicitly warns that rulers’ actions (or perceived actions) can provoke social and moral upheaval, and that self-restraint is essential to preserve dharma.
Vibhāṇḍaka, overwhelmed by anger and suspecting the king’s involvement in a wrongdoing, departs for Campā. His fury is described as so intense that he seems ready to burn the Aṅga king along with his city and kingdom.