Shloka 43
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
ततः प्रीतस्तु दैत्येन्द्रो भयमस्या भवन्महत् | वरे प्रदिष्टे विप्रेण नाल्पतेजायमित्युत,यह सुनकर दैत्यराज प्रह्नाद प्रसन्न तो हुए; परंतु उनके मनमें बड़ा भारी भय समा गया। ब्राह्मणके वर माँगनेपर वे सोचने लगे कि यह कोई साधारण तेजवाला पुरुष नहीं है
tataḥ prītastu daityendro bhayam asyā bhavan mahat | vare pradiṣṭe vipreṇa nālpatejāyam ity uta ||
Mendengar hal itu, penguasa kaum Daitya berasa gembira; namun ketakutan besar pun timbul dalam hatinya. Ketika brahmana itu menyatakan permintaannya sebagai anugerah, raja Daitya itu berfikir, “Ini bukanlah manusia yang memiliki daya rohani biasa.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one is pleased, dharmic prudence requires discernment: a request for a boon can carry hidden consequences, and true spiritual power (tejas) commands respect and caution. The verse highlights ethical vigilance—do not grant or accept commitments blindly.
The Daitya-king, though gratified by what he has heard, becomes inwardly anxious when a brāhmaṇa asks for a boon. He suspects the brāhmaṇa is extraordinarily potent and that the boon-request may not be simple or harmless.