Shloka 8
Adhyāya 227: Duryodhana’s Deliberation and the Ghoṣa-yātrā Pretext
Dvaita-vana
अथ सप्तर्षय: श्रुत्वा जात॑ पुत्र महौजसम् । तत्यजु: षट् तदा पत्नीर्विना देवीमरुन्धतीम्,इधर सप्तर्षियोंने जब यह सुना कि हमारी छ: पत्नियोंके रंगसे अग्निदेवके एक महातेजस्वी पुत्र उत्पन्न हुआ है, तब उन्होंने अरुन्धती देवीके सिवा अन्य छः पत्नियोंको त्याग दिया
atha saptarṣayaḥ śrutvā jātaṃ putraṃ mahaujasam | tatyajuḥ ṣaṭ tadā patnīr vinā devīm aruṇdhatīm ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, when the Seven Ṛṣis heard that a son of great splendor had been born from the six wives, they thereupon renounced those six wives—leaving aside only the goddess Arundhatī. The episode underscores how fear of moral blame and anxiety over purity can drive harsh social judgments, even within revered households.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between dharma and social reaction: even eminent sages may respond to perceived transgression by imposing severe consequences. It invites reflection on fairness, compassion, and the dangers of judging others based on rumor, fear, or collective shame.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that the Seven Sages, upon hearing that a powerful son had been born connected with their six wives, renounce those six wives, while Arundhatī alone is not abandoned.