Shloka 4
भरद्वाजपुत्रवधः
The Slaying of Bharadvāja’s Son and the Sage’s Lament
अग्निहोत्रगृहमें यह विकृति देखकर उन महातपस्वी भरद्वाजने वहाँ बैठे हुए अन्धे गृहरक्षक शूद्रसे पूछा-- ।। कि नु मे नाग्नय: शूद्र प्रतिनन्दन्ति दर्शनम् । त्वं चापि न यथापूर्व कच्चित् क्षेममिहाश्रमे
kiṃ nu me nāgnayaḥ śūdra pratinandanti darśanam | tvaṃ cāpi na yathāpūrvaṃ kaccit kṣemam ihāśrame ||
Melihat kejanggalan itu di rumah Agnihotra, pertapa agung Bharadvāja menyoal Śūdra yang buta, penjaga rumah di situ: “Mengapa, wahai Śūdra, api suci milikku seakan tidak menyambut kehadiranku? Dan engkau juga tidak seperti dahulu—katakan, adakah semuanya sejahtera dan selamat di pertapaan ini?”
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the āśrama ideal that ritual order and moral order are linked: when the sacred fires and the guardian’s demeanor seem altered, the sage treats it as a sign to inquire into the hermitage’s kṣema (safety and well-being). Vigilance, responsibility, and concern for the community’s welfare are presented as part of dharma.
Bharadvāja notices a disturbing irregularity in the Agnihotra setting—his fires do not appear to ‘welcome’ him, and the blind Śūdra guardian seems changed. He questions the guardian to learn what has gone wrong and whether the hermitage remains safe.