Shloka 52
वामदेव उवाच घोरें व्रतं ब्राह्मणस्यैतदाहु- रेतद् राजन् यदिहाजीवमान: । अयस्मया घोररूपा महान्त- श्वत्वारो वा यातुधाना: सुरीद्रा: । मया प्रयुक्तास्त्वद्वधमीप्समाना वहन्तु त्वां शितशूलाश्षतुर्धा,वामदेव बोले--राजन! तुम ब्राह्मणोंके इस धनको हड़पकर जो अपने उपयोगमें लाना चाहते हो, यह बड़ा भयंकर कर्म कहा गया है। यदि मेरे घोड़े वापस न दोगे तो मेरी आज्ञा पाकर विकराल रूपधारी तथा लौह-शरीरवाले अत्यन्त भयंकर चार बड़े-बड़े राक्षस हाथोंमें तीखे त्रिशूल लिये तुम्हारे वधकी इच्छासे टूट पड़ेंगे और तुम्हारे शरीरके चार टुकड़े करके उठा ले जायाँगे
vāmadeva uvāca | ghoraṁ vrataṁ brāhmaṇasya etad āhur etad rājan yad ihājīvamānaḥ | ayasmayā ghorarūpā mahāntaś catvāro vā yātudhānāḥ surīdrāḥ | mayā prayuktās tvad-vadham īpsamānā vahantu tvāṁ śitaśūlāś caturdhā ||
Vāmadeva said: “O King, the wise declare this to be a dreadful violation of a brāhmaṇa’s sacred order—when one, while living here, seizes a brāhmaṇa’s wealth and turns it to one’s own use. If you do not return my horses, then, at my command, four enormous, terrifying yātudhānas—iron-bodied and of dreadful form—bearing sharp tridents, will rush upon you desiring your death, tear you into four parts, and carry you away.”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the seizure of a brāhmaṇa’s property for personal use as a grave breach of dharma, warning that such wrongdoing invites swift and fearsome retribution; it underscores the king’s obligation to respect and protect brahminical rights and sacred property.
Vāmadeva confronts a king and demands the return of his horses; he threatens that if the horses are not restored, four iron-bodied yātudhānas, armed with sharp tridents, will be unleashed to kill the king and carry him off after tearing him into four parts.