Shloka 17
Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)
शापश्न सुमहांस्तस्य दत्त: सुरगणैस्तदा । कुक्षौ पुनर्भ्वा: पापो5यं जनयित्वा चिरात् सुतान्
śāpaś ca sumahāṁs tasya dattaḥ suragaṇais tadā | kukṣau punarbhavaḥ pāpo ’yaṁ janayitvā cirāt sutān |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Pada waktu itu, para dewa menjatuhkan ke atasnya suatu sumpahan yang amat berat: ‘Makhluk berdosa ini akan lahir semula, dan hanya setelah masa yang sangat panjang barulah ia akan memperanakkan anak-anak lelaki.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions that violate dharma can draw grave consequences: divine or cosmic justice may manifest as suffering in future births, including delayed fulfillment of worldly aims such as progeny.
Bhīṣma recounts that the gods collectively pronounced a harsh curse on a particular sinful individual, decreeing rebirth and that he would obtain sons only after a long delay.