Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 7
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
तथेति स वनं गत्वा मृगान् हत्वा क्रियार्हणान् । श्रान्तो बुभुक्षितो वीर: शशं चाददपस्मृति: ॥ ७ ॥
tatheti sa vanaṁ gatvā mṛgān hatvā kriyārhaṇān śrānto bubhukṣito vīraḥ śaśaṁ cādad apasmṛtiḥ
“ତଥାସ୍ତୁ” ବୋଲି ସେ ବନକୁ ଯାଇ କ୍ରିୟାଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଅନେକ ମୃଗକୁ ହତ୍ୟା କଲା। କିନ୍ତୁ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ଓ ଭୁଖା ହୋଇ ଭୁଲିଗଲା ଏବଂ ହତ ଶଶକକୁ ଖାଇଦେଲା।
It is evident that kṣatriyas killed animals in the forest because the flesh of the animals was suitable to be offered at a particular type of yajña. Offering oblations to the forefathers in the ceremony known as śrāddha is also a kind of yajña. In this yajña, flesh obtained from the forest by hunting could be offered. However, in the present age, Kali-yuga, this kind of offering is forbidden. Quoting from the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said:
FAQs
In this verse, apasmṛti indicates a clouding of memory/awareness—due to fatigue and hunger—leading the person to act improperly by taking a hare.
It highlights that the initial hunting was framed as being for sanctioned ritual use, but later, under exhaustion and hunger, discernment slipped and he took even a hare, showing how weakness can derail right conduct.
When tired, stressed, or hungry, judgment weakens; therefore one should avoid major decisions and potentially harmful actions in such states and return to steadiness before acting.