Shloka 4
बालेनापि सता मोहादू भृशं पापकृतान्यपि । नाभ्यासादयितव्यानि तेजांसि च तपांसि च,“सज्जन बालकको भी चाहिये कि वह अत्यन्त मोहके कारण पापशून्य, तेजस्वी तथा तपस्वी पुरुषोंके अत्यन्त निकट न जाय
bālenāpi satā mohād bhṛśaṃ pāpakṛtāny api | nābhyāsādayitavyāni tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Even a well-meaning boy, when overcome by delusion, may commit grievous wrongs. Therefore he should not rashly approach or press too close to men of spiritual radiance and severe austerity; the power of such ascetics is not to be handled lightly, and heedless proximity can lead to harm and moral fault.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a basically good person can do great harm when deluded; therefore one should act with restraint and not intrude upon or provoke those endowed with intense tejas and tapas, whose spiritual power can have serious consequences.
Vaiśaṃpāyana offers a cautionary reflection within the Vana Parva context: heedless closeness to powerful ascetics—especially by the young or inexperienced—can lead to unintended offenses and grave outcomes.