Shloka 14
चित्रसेन-समागमः / The Engagement with Citrasena and the Gandharvas
अमित्रप्रहितांश्वापि गदान् परमदारुणान् | मूलप्रचारैहिं विषं प्रयच्छन्ति जिघांसव:,“इसके सिवा, ऐसे अवसरोंपर धोखेसे शत्रुओं-द्वारा भेजी हुई ओषधियोंको खिलाकर कितनी ही स्त्रियाँ अपने पतियोंको अत्यन्त भयंकर रोगोंका शिकार बना देती हैं। किसीको मारनेकी इच्छावाले मनुष्य उसकी स्त्रीके हाथमें यह प्रचार करते हुए विष दे देते हैं कि “यह पतिको वशमें करनेवाली जड़ी-बूटी है”
amitra-prahitāṁś cāpi gadān paramadāruṇān | mūla-pracāraiḥ hi viṣaṁ prayacchanti jighāṁsavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Enemies also send extremely dreadful diseases. Indeed, those intent on killing administer poison through the pretext of ‘roots and herbs’—spreading the claim that it is a medicinal remedy, they place the poison into another’s hands (often through the wife), and thus bring about grave harm.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that adharma often operates through deception: harmful acts like poisoning can be disguised as medicine, exploiting trust within the household. Ethical vigilance is required, especially where persuasion and false ‘benefit’ are used to mask violence.
Vaiśampāyana describes a tactic of hostile agents: they cause lethal harm by having poison administered under the guise of herbal remedies. The accompanying context (as reflected in the Gītā Press gloss) highlights how such plots may be routed through a spouse’s hand by claiming the substance is a beneficial herb.