Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत् सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे । अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्र धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasmiṁs tu vidhivat satre sampravṛtte sudāruṇe | akṣīyata tato rāṣṭra dhṛtarāṣṭrasya pārthiva | krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「王よ、あの恐るべき苛烈なサットラ(長期祭)が、定められた作法に従って開始されるや、その時より持国王(ドリタラーシュトラ)の国は衰え始めた。法にかなった強大な苦行者—大いなる憤怒にとらわれた者—が、国土をも食らい尽くす力をもつ儀礼を動かしたからである。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Even actions performed with full ritual correctness (vidhivat) can become ethically destructive when driven by intense anger; power without inner restraint turns into a force that erodes social and political order.
A fearsome satra (extended sacrificial rite) begins, and from its commencement Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s realm is said to diminish—implying that the rite, propelled by a wrathful yet powerful ascetic, has tangible consequences for the kingdom.