Shloka 22
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
अपां कुज्जे सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव । सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत्
apāṁ kujje sarasvatyās taṁ prasādaya pārthiva | sarasvatīṁ tato gatvā sa rājā bakam abravīt, krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「王よ、サラスヴァティーの林苑、水辺のほとりにその仙人は座しておられる。赴いて、その御心を和らげ、御加護を得よ。」そこで王はサラスヴァティーの岸へ行き、仙人バカに語りかけた。バカは法にかなった強大な苦行者であったが、激しい憤怒にとらわれていた――この一節は、苦行の威力と怒りの危うさ、そして聖者に近づくには敬意をもって和解を求めねばならぬという道徳的緊張を浮かび上がらせる。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Approaching spiritual authority requires humility and respectful conciliation; even a dharmic ascetic may be overtaken by anger, so the ethical response is to seek peace and proper conduct rather than provoke conflict.
Vaiśampāyana describes a king being directed to a sage seated near the waters in a Sarasvatī grove; the king then goes to the riverbank and begins speaking to the sage Baka, who is characterized as righteous, powerful, and seized by intense anger.