Shloka 1663
Adhyāya 227: Duryodhana’s Deliberation and the Ghoṣa-yātrā Pretext
Dvaita-vana
श्र॒ुत्वा तु तत्त्वतस्तस्मात् ते पत्नी: सर्वतो5त्यजन् | महामुनि विश्वामित्रने यह जान लिया था कि स्वाहाने अन्य ऋषिपत्नियोंके रूप धारण करके अग्निदेवसे सम्बन्ध स्थापित किया था; इसलिये उन्होंने सब ऋषियोंसे कहा --“आपकी स्त्रियोंका कोई अपराध नहीं है” उनके मुखसे यथार्थ बात जानकर भी ऋषियोंने अपनी पत्नियोंको सर्वथा त्याग ही दिया
śrutvā tu tattvatas tasmāt te patnīḥ sarvato 'tyajan |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Having heard the truth of the matter from him, those sages nevertheless abandoned their wives completely on all sides—despite knowing from his own mouth what had really happened. The episode highlights how suspicion and wounded honor can override fairness, even when innocence is affirmed.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when the truth is known, people may act unjustly due to pride, social pressure, or fear of dishonor; dharma requires restraint and fairness rather than reflexive punishment of the innocent.
After the real facts are disclosed, the sages still repudiate their wives completely, showing a harsh social reaction that persists despite explicit clarification of innocence.