Shloka 41
Śukra’s Ultimatum and Devayānī’s Demand (शुक्र-प्रतिज्ञा तथा देवयानी-वर-याचना)
यजतो दीर्घ॑सत्रैमें शापाच्चोशनसो मुने: । कामार्थ: परिहीणो<यं तप्येयं तेन पुत्रका:,'पुत्रो) अबतक तो मैं दीर्घकालीन यज्ञोंके अनुष्ठानमें लगा रहा और अब मुनिवर शुक्राचार्यके शापसे बुढ़ापेने मुझे धर दबाया है, जिससे मेरा कामरूप पुरुषार्थ छिन गया। इसीसे मैं संतप्त हो रहा हूँ
yajato dīrghasatrair me śāpāc cośanaso muneḥ | kāmārthaḥ parihīṇo ’yaṃ tapye ’haṃ tena putrakāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Enquanto eu me dedicava a longas sessões sacrificiais, a maldição do sábio Uśanas (Śukrācārya) fez recair sobre mim a velhice. Por isso, foi-me tirada a capacidade de kāma — a força vital do desejo e do deleite —; assim, meus filhos, estou aflito e ardo em angústia.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even sustained ritual achievement (long sacrifices) does not place one beyond the reach of time and karmic consequence; a curse and old age can strip away kāma-capacity, reminding that human aims (puruṣārthas) are fragile and must be pursued within dharma and with awareness of impermanence.
The speaker reports a personal condition: after long sacrificial observances, the curse of the sage Uśanas has caused premature/inescapable old age, resulting in the loss of kāma (desire/sexual vigor), and he expresses distress to his sons.