Shloka 5
अध्याय ४ — द्वारकानिमित्तानि, प्रभासगमनम्, मौसलप्रारम्भः
Omens in Dvārakā, Journey to Prabhāsa, and the Musala Outbreak
स प्रस्थित: केशवेनानुशिष्टो मदातुरो ज्ञातिवधार्दितश्न । तं॑ विश्रान्तं संनिधौ केशवस्य दुरन्तमेक॑ सहसैव बश्चुम्,श्रीकृष्णकी आज्ञा पाकर बश्रु वहाँसे प्रस्थित हुए। वे मदिराके मदसे आतुर थे ही, भाई- बन्धुओंके वधसे भी अत्यन्त शोकपीड़ित थे। वे श्रीकृष्णके निकट अभी विश्राम कर ही रहे थे कि ब्राह्मणोंके शापके प्रभावसे उत्पन्न हुआ एक महान दुर्धर्ष मूसल किसी व्याधके बाणसे लगा हुआ सहसा उनके ऊपर आकर गिरा। उसने तुरंत ही उनके प्राण ले लिये। बश्रुको मारा गया देख उग्र तेजस्वी श्रीकृष्णने अपने बड़े भाईसे कहा--
sa prasthitaḥ keśavenānuśiṣṭo madāturo jñātivadhārditaś ca | taṁ viśrāntaṁ saṁnidhau keśavasya durantam ekaṁ sahasaiva mūsalam ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Assim instruído por Keśava, ele partiu—ainda abalado pela embriaguez e profundamente afligido pelo massacre de seus próprios parentes. Enquanto repousava perto de Keśava, uma única e formidável clava de ferro, nascida da maldição dos brāhmaṇas, atingiu-o de súbito, como se impelida pelo destino; caiu sobre ele e rapidamente lhe tirou a vida.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores karmic inevitability: intoxication and moral lapse weaken discernment, and the consequences of a curse (born of wrongdoing and disrespect) mature inescapably. Even proximity to the divine (Keśava) does not negate the fruition of collective actions; it highlights the ethical law that deeds and attitudes bear results.
After being instructed by Kṛṣṇa, a grief-stricken and intoxicated figure departs and then rests near Kṛṣṇa. At that moment, a single formidable iron club—linked to the brāhmaṇas’ curse—suddenly strikes and kills him, marking the grim unfolding of the Mausala Parva’s catastrophe.