Shloka 23
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
मैं पूर्वजन्ममें एक श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणका पुत्र और वेदाध्ययनपरायण ब्राह्मण था। वेदांगोंका पारंगत विद्वान् माना जाता था। मैं विद्याध्ययनमें अत्यन्त कुशल था ।।
ātma-doṣa-kṛtair brahman avasthām āptavān imām | kaścid rājā mama sakhā bhṛṅgur veda-parāyaṇaḥ ||
ବ୍ୟାଧ କହିଲା—ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ନିଜ ଦୋଷର କାରଣରୁ ମୁଁ ଏହି ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୋଇଛି। ଭୃଙ୍ଗୁ ନାମକ ଜଣେ ରାଜା—ମୋର ସଖା—ବେଦପରାୟଣ ଥିଲେ।
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes moral responsibility: one’s present condition can arise from one’s own faults (ātma-doṣa), highlighting karma and self-accountability as central to dharma.
The hunter addresses a Brāhmaṇa and begins explaining his background and how he reached his current state, introducing a connection with a certain king named Bhṛṅgu who is described as devoted to the Vedas.