Shloka 11
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
तस्य बुद्धिरियं हयासीद् धर्मनित्यस्य भारत । इयं सरस्वती तूर्ण मत्समीपं तपोधनम्
tasya buddhir iyaṁ hy āsīd dharmanityasya bhārata | iyaṁ sarasvatī tūrṇaṁ matsamīpaṁ tapodhanam, bharatanandana! sadā dharme tatpara rahevale viśvāmitra munike manameṁ yaha vicāra utpanna huā ki iyaṁ sarasvatī tapodhana vasiṣṭhako apane jalake vegase tūranta hī mere samīpa lā degī, aur yahāṁ ā jānepara tapasvī muniyoṁ meṁ śreṣṭha vipravara vasiṣṭhaka maiṁ vadha kara ḍālūṁgā; isameṁ saṁśaya nahīṁ hai
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ó Bhārata! Tal foi a resolução que surgiu na mente do sempre reto sábio Viśvāmitra: “Esta Sarasvatī, pela força de suas águas, trará depressa Vasiṣṭha—tesouro de ascese—para junto de mim; e, quando ele aqui chegar, matarei esse brâmane, o mais eminente dos sábios. Disso não há dúvida.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension: even one described as devoted to dharma can be overtaken by anger and the desire for revenge, leading to intentions of violence against a revered sage. It implicitly warns that tapas or spiritual status without self-restraint can turn power into harm.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Viśvāmitra’s inner resolve: he believes the river Sarasvatī will swiftly carry Vasiṣṭha to him by the force of her current, and he intends to kill Vasiṣṭha upon his arrival, convinced there is no doubt it will happen.