Shloka 42
कल्माषपाद-शाप-कारणम्
Cause of Kalmāṣapāda’s Niyoga under a Curse
ततस्तस्मिन् पुरे राष्ट्र त्यक्तदारपरिग्रहा: । परस्परममर्यादा: क्षुधार्ता जध्निरे जना:
tatastasmīn pure rāṣṭre tyaktadāraparigrahāḥ | parasparamamaryādāḥ kṣudhārtā jadhnire janāḥ ||
Kemudian, di kota itu dan di seluruh kerajaan, orang ramai—diseksa kelaparan—membuang isteri serta ikatan rumah tangga. Mereka meninggalkan segala batas tatasusila, lalu saling menyerang, membunuh, dan merompak sesama sendiri. Maka kota raja pun dipenuhi lelaki yang kurus kering kerana berpuasa dan kebuluran, bagaikan mayat hidup; sesak dengan rangka manusia, kota itu tampak seperti kediaman Yama, dikepung roh-roh.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
When extreme scarcity (hunger) overwhelms society, people may abandon family duties and the boundaries of maryādā (ethical restraint). The verse highlights how the erosion of dharma begins with the loss of self-control and social obligations, leading to mutual violence and a city that resembles a realm of death.
Vasiṣṭha describes a city and kingdom struck by severe hunger: people, desperate and unrestrained, abandon their households and turn on each other, killing one another. The population becomes emaciated and deathlike, making the city appear like Yama’s abode surrounded by spirits.