Shloka 18
Droṇotpattiḥ and Dhanurveda-Prāpti
Origin of Droṇa and Acquisition of Martial Science
कामयामासतुस्तौ च परस्परमिति श्रुतम् । स तस्यां कामसम्पन्नो यक्ष्मणा समपद्यत
kāmayāmāsatus tau ca parasparam iti śrutam | sa tasyāṃ kāmasampanno yakṣmaṇā samapadyata |
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Dikhabarkan bahawa kedua-duanya—suami dan isteri—saling merindui dengan amat mendalam. Namun raja itu, kerana dikuasai nafsu terhadapnya, telah ditimpa rājayakṣmā, penyakit yang menghakis tubuh.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames excessive sensual absorption (kāma) as a force that can weaken discernment and even lead to ruin; it implicitly commends restraint and balance in household life, where affection should not become compulsive indulgence.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that the king and his wife were mutually attached, but the king’s intense sexual preoccupation with her results in his being afflicted by yakṣmā (rājayakṣmā), a wasting illness.