Shloka 55
Kubera’s Arrival and the Disclosure of Agastya’s Curse
Vaiśaṃpāyana–Janamejaya Narrative
आत्मना क्रातृभिश्वैव धर्मेण सुकृतेन च । इप्टेन च शपे राजन् सूदयिष्यामि राक्षसम्,फिर वे युधिष्ठिससे बोले--“महाराज! मैं अपनी, सब भाइयोंकी, धर्मकी, पुण्य कर्मोंकी तथा यज्ञकी शपथ खाकर कहता हूँ, इस राक्षसको अवश्य मार डालूँगा
ātmana krātṛbhiś caiva dharmeṇa sukṛtena ca | iṣṭena ca śape rājan sūdayiṣyāmi rākṣasam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O King, I swear by my own self, by my brothers, by dharma, by the merit of righteous deeds, and by the sacrifices I have duly performed: I will surely slay this rākṣasa.” The vow is framed as an ethical commitment—grounded in dharma and earned religious merit—rather than mere anger or bravado.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a model of ethically grounded resolve: a vow is anchored in dharma and in the moral capital of good deeds and sacrifices, implying that force (slaying the rākṣasa) is justified when aligned with righteousness and protection.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) declares a solemn oath before the King, invoking self, brothers, dharma, merit, and sacrifice as witnesses, and promises to kill a threatening rākṣasa—signaling imminent action against a demonic adversary.