Shloka 1
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
सुरकार्यमिदं रम्भे कर्तव्यं सुमहत्त्वया।लोभनं कौशिकस्येह काममोहसमन्वितम्।।1.64.1।।
surakāryam idaṃ rambhe kartavyaṃ sumahat tvayā | lobhanaṃ kauśikasyeha kāmamohasamanvitam ||
“ਹੇ ਰੰਭੇ, ਇਹ ਦੇਵ-ਕਾਰਜ ਹੈ; ਬਹੁਤ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਹ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ। ਇੱਥੇ ਕਾਮ-ਮੋਹ ਨਾਲ ਭਰਿਆ ਲੋਭਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਕੌਸ਼ਿਕ ਨੂੰ ਭਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾ ਦੇ।”
"O Rambha! you must entice Viswamitra by lust and passion. This important workmust be done by you in the interest of the gods".
FAQs
The verse highlights an ethical conflict: using desire as a tool to sabotage another’s spiritual pursuit contradicts dharmic ideals of fairness and truthfulness (satya), even when framed as ‘divine work’.
Indra assigns Rambhā the specific mission of tempting Viśvāmitra to break or weaken his austerities.
By contrast, it emphasizes the virtue required of the ascetic—steadfast self-control—because external forces actively attempt to generate kāma and moha.