Shloka 28
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
मन्वानस्तं मृगं चाहं सम्प्राप्त: सहसा प्रभो । अपश्यं तमृषिं विद्धं शरेणानतपर्वणा,प्रभो! मैंने उन्हें हिंसक पशु समझकर बाण मारा था। अतः सहसा उनके पास जा पहुँचा। वहाँ जाकर देखा कि झुकी हुई गाँठवाले उस बाणसे एक ऋषि घायल होकर धरतीपर पड़े हैं
manvānastaṃ mṛgaṃ cāhaṃ samprāptaḥ sahasā prabho | apaśyaṃ tamṛṣiṃ viddhaṃ śareṇānataparvaṇā ||
Thinking him to be a wild beast, I shot an arrow. Then, O lord, I hurried there at once; and on reaching the spot I saw that it was a sage, lying wounded on the ground—pierced by my arrow whose joints were not straight.
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical accountability: even when harm is unintended (mistaking a person for an animal), one must recognize the wrongdoing, face its consequences, and respond with remorse and corrective action. It underscores the gravity of violence and the need for discernment (viveka) before acting.
The hunter explains that he mistook someone for a wild animal and shot an arrow. Rushing to the spot, he discovers the victim is actually a sage, lying wounded after being pierced by his arrow.