Shloka 3
भरद्वाजपुत्रवधः
The Slaying of Bharadvāja’s Son and the Sage’s Lament
वैकृतं त्वग्निहोत्रे स लक्षयित्वा महातपा: । तमन्ध॑ शूद्रमासीनं गृहपालमथाब्रवीत्
vaikṛtaṃ tv agnihotre sa lakṣayitvā mahātapāḥ | tam andhaṃ śūdram āsīnaṃ gṛhapālam athābravīt ||
Melihat sesuatu yang ganjil dalam pelaksanaan Agnihotra, pertapa agung itu memerhati lalu terlihat seorang Śūdra yang buta duduk di situ—penjaga rumah—lantas menegurnya.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a sacred obligation appears disrupted, one should respond with careful observation and direct, responsible inquiry—seeking the cause before judging, and addressing the person connected to the duty.
An ascetic notices an irregularity in the Agnihotra rite and then speaks to a blind Śūdra who is seated there and identified as the household’s guardian/caretaker, initiating an investigation into what has gone wrong.