Shloka 27
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
राजा तद् यज्ञसदनं प्रविष्टो निशि तर्षित: । दृष्ट्वा शयानान् विप्रांस्तान् पपौ मन्त्रजलं स्वयम् ॥ २७ ॥
rājā tad-yajña-sadanaṁ praviṣṭo niśi tarṣitaḥ dṛṣṭvā śayānān viprāṁs tān papau mantra-jalaṁ svayam
Pada suatu malam kerana dahaga, raja memasuki tempat upacara yajña. Melihat para brāhmaṇa sedang berbaring, baginda sendiri meminum air yang telah disucikan dengan mantra—air yang sepatutnya diminum oleh permaisurinya.
Yajñas performed by brāhmaṇas according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are so potent that the sanctifying of water by Vedic mantras can bring about the desired result. In this instance, the brāhmaṇas sanctified the water so that the King’s wife might drink it in the yajña, but by providence the King himself went there at night and, being thirsty, drank the water.
FAQs
Mantra-jala is water sanctified by Vedic mantras during a yajña; here the king, overcome by thirst, drinks that consecrated water himself.
He was suffering intense thirst and, finding the sacrificial pavilion at night with brāhmaṇas asleep, he took the opportunity to drink the sanctified water.
Even under pressure, one should act with restraint and respect toward sacred settings and saintly persons, because impulsive actions in holy contexts can carry serious consequences.