Shloka 12
Kurukṣetra–Samantapañcaka Māhātmya: King Kuru’s Ploughing and Indra’s Boon (प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिः समन्तपञ्चकं)
असंस्कृताया: कन्याया: कुतो लोकास्तवानघे । एवं तु श्रुतमस्माभिदेंवलोके महाव्रते
asaṁskṛtāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ kuto lokās tavānaghe | evaṁ tu śrutam asmābhir devaloke mahāvrate ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai yang tidak berdosa, bagaimana mungkin seorang gadis yang belum menjalani saṃskāra (upacara penyucian/inisiasi) dapat mencapai alam-alam syurga? Namun demikian, inilah yang telah kami dengar di alam para dewa, wahai engkau yang berikrar agung.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse raises a dharmic question about the relationship between ritual qualification (saṁskāra) and spiritual reward (attaining higher worlds), while also acknowledging that authoritative tradition reports exceptional outcomes beyond ordinary expectation.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a listener respectfully (“blameless,” “great-vowed”) and expresses surprise: an uninitiated maiden attaining heavenly realms seems unlikely, yet he affirms that such an account is known from devaloka tradition.