Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 16
The Kuru Line, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa; Pāṇḍavas, Parīkṣit, and Future Kings
Chandravaṁśa Continuation
एवमुक्तो द्विजैर्ज्येष्ठं छन्दयामास सोऽब्रवीत् । तन्मन्त्रिप्रहितैर्विप्रैर्वेदाद् विभ्रंशितो गिरा ॥ १६ ॥ वेदवादातिवादान् वै तदा देवो ववर्ष ह । देवापिर्योगमास्थाय कलापग्राममाश्रित: ॥ १७ ॥
evam ukto dvijair jyeṣṭhaṁ chandayām āsa so ’bravīt tan-mantri-prahitair viprair vedād vibhraṁśito girā
Apabila para brāhmaṇa berkata demikian, Śāntanu pergi ke hutan untuk memujuk abang sulungnya, Devāpi, agar mengambil alih kerajaan. Namun sebelumnya menteri Śāntanu telah menghasut beberapa brāhmaṇa supaya mendorong Devāpi melanggar ketetapan Veda; Devāpi pun menyimpang, mencela Veda dan menjadi jatuh, lalu menolak takhta. Maka Śāntanu kembali menjadi raja, dan Indra berkenan menurunkan hujan. Kemudian Devāpi menempuh jalan yoga, mengawal minda dan pancaindera, lalu tinggal di desa bernama Kalāpagrāma, dan hingga kini masih menetap di sana.
FAQs
This verse indicates that when one is diverted from Vedic authority—especially by misguided counsel—one’s speech and judgment become distorted, leading to non-Vedic conclusions.
In the narrative, brāhmaṇas—sent under ministerial influence—became instruments in redirecting the younger from Vedic alignment, showing how even religious authority can be misused when guided by politics.
Choose guidance rooted in śāstra and integrity; avoid echo-chambers and self-interested advisors that gradually normalize compromise of core principles.