Shloka 26
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
निष्पाप ब्राह्मण! तुम मेरे इस अपराधको क्षमा करो। मैं बुद्धिमान् ब्राह्मणोंके तेज और महत्त्वको जानती हूँ ।। अपेय: सागर: क्रोधात् कृतो हि लवणोदक: । तथैव दीप्ततपसां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
niṣpāpa brāhmaṇa! tvaṃ mama etam aparādhaṃ kṣamasva. ahaṃ buddhimatī brāhmaṇānāṃ tejaḥ-mahattvaṃ jānāmi. apeyaḥ sāgaraḥ krodhāt kṛto hi lavaṇodakaḥ. tathaiva dīptatapasāṃ munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām.
“O sinless Brāhmaṇa, please forgive this offence of mine. I understand the radiance and greatness of wise Brāhmaṇas. Indeed, the ocean became undrinkable—turned into salt water—because of wrath; in the same way, the anger of sages whose austerities blaze and whose selves are disciplined becomes formidable.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should promptly seek forgiveness for wrongdoing and recognize the moral-spiritual power (tejas) of disciplined sages; uncontrolled anger can transform what is beneficial into something harmful, just as wrath is said to have made the ocean’s water undrinkable.
A female speaker addresses a Brāhmaṇa, admits her offence, and asks pardon. To justify her urgency and humility, she cites an illustrative comparison: anger can have vast consequences, and the wrath of austere, self-controlled sages is especially potent.