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 ||
Mengetahui, “Kami telah dikutuk,” para Vasu mendekati resi itu sekali lagi, wahai banteng di antara raja-raja. Untuk menenangkan hatinya, mereka berusaha memohon perkenan sang rishi; namun, walau sekuat mana pun usaha mereka, mereka tidak memperoleh keampunan belas kasihnya—menunjukkan bahawa bahkan yang ilahi pun harus tunduk kepada daya moral tapa seorang Brahmarṣi dan akibat kesalahan.
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.