Shloka 37
नियोगप्रसङ्गः — The Niyoga Episode: Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura
लेभिरे न च तस्मात् ते प्रसादमृषिसत्तमात् । आपपवात् पुरुषव्याप्र सर्वधर्मविशारदात्
vaishampāyana uvāca |
lebhire na ca tasmāt te prasādam ṛṣisattamāt |
āpāpavāt puruṣavyāghra sarvadharmaviśāradāt ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Para Vasu itu tidak memperoleh perkenan daripada resi yang terunggul; wahai harimau di antara manusia, mereka juga tidak dapat meraih rahmat Āpāpava, yang mahir dalam segala dharma. (Tersirat: Walaupun mereka cuba meredakan hati pertapa agung itu setelah dikutuk, kemurkaan beliau tidak mudah surut, menegaskan beratnya tapa dan seriusnya pelanggaran.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even exalted beings are bound by dharma: wrongdoing brings consequences, and a sage’s displeasure is not easily removed. The verse highlights the ethical gravity of tapas and the principle that grace (prasāda) must be earned through genuine rectification, not merely sought after the fact.
After incurring a curse, the Vasus attempt to approach and appease the great sage (named here as Āpāpava, described as expert in all dharmas). Despite their efforts, they fail to obtain his favorable grace.