Shloka 23
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राउ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ । प्रसादये त्वां भगवन्नपराध॑ क्षमस्व मे
nipatya śirasā bhūmau prāñjalir bharatarṣabha | prasādaye tvāṃ bhagavann aparādhaṃ kṣamasva me | krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān ||
ਹੇ ਭਰਤ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਉਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕ ਕੇ, ਹੱਥ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਬੋਲਿਆ—“ਭਗਵਨ! ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨਤਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਮੇਰਾ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical restoration through humility: one who has erred should approach the worthy with reverence, confess the offence, and seek forgiveness—while also warning that even the righteous can be overtaken by intense anger.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a scene of supplication: a figure prostrates with joined hands and asks a revered person to pardon an offence; the narration then turns to describe a powerful, dharma-minded ascetic who has been seized by great anger.