Shloka 23
रूयुवाच नाहं बलाका विदप्रर्षे त्यज क्रोध॑ं तपोधन,स्त्री बोली--तपोधन! क्रोध न करो। ब्रह्मर्ष! मैं बगुली नहीं हूँ जो तुम्हारी इस क्रोधभरी दृष्टिसे जल जाऊँगी। तुम इस तरह कुपित होकर मेरा क्या करोगे? मैं ब्राह्मणोंका अपमान नहीं करती। मनस्वी ब्राह्मण तो देवताके समान होते हैं
strī uvāca | na ahaṃ balākā vidarṣaḥ | tyaja krodhaṃ tapodhana | brahmarṣe! māṃ krodhadṛṣṭyā na dagdhum arhasi | tvaṃ kṛddhaḥ san mama kiṃ kariṣyasi | na ahaṃ brāhmaṇān avamanyāmi | manasvinaḥ brāhmaṇā devatāsamaḥ ||
The woman said: “I am not that heron, O sage. Abandon your anger, O rich in austerity. O Brahmarṣi, you cannot burn me with an angry glance. What will you accomplish by raging at me? I do not insult Brahmins; high-minded Brahmins are like the gods themselves.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger, even when backed by ascetic power, should be restrained; true dharma includes self-control and measured conduct. Respect for Brahmins is affirmed, yet the verse also cautions that spiritual potency must not be misused as intimidation.
A woman addresses an enraged Brahmin-sage who has displayed (or is about to display) wrath like the earlier incident of burning a heron with a glance. She tells him she is not that bird, urges him to abandon anger, and clarifies that she does not disrespect Brahmins, who are regarded as godlike.