Shloka 36
नियोगप्रसङ्गः — The Niyoga Episode: Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura
शप्ता: सम इति जानन्त ऋषिं तमुपचक्रमु: । प्रसादयन्तस्तमृषिं वसव: पार्थिवर्षभ
śaptāḥ sma iti jānanta ṛṣiṁ tam upacakramuḥ | prasādayantas tam ṛṣiṁ vasavaḥ pārthivarṣabha ||
「我らは呪われた」と悟ったヴァスたちは、王中の雄牛よ、その聖仙のもとへ再び近づいた。彼をなだめ、リシの恩寵を得ようと努めたが、いかに尽くしても慈しみの赦しは得られなかった——ここに、神々といえども梵仙のタパスがもつ道徳の威力と、過ちの報いの前には頭を垂れねばならぬことが示される。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even gods are not above dharma: wrongful acts bring consequences, and the moral-spiritual authority of a true rishi’s tapas makes a curse effective and not easily revoked. Seeking forgiveness is right, but it does not guarantee immediate release from the results of one’s deeds.
After being cursed, the eight Vasus realize their condition and return to the sage they offended. They approach him respectfully and attempt to propitiate him, but they fail to secure his gracious pardon at that time.