Shloka 366
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
उभयो: कुर्वती वाक््यं वज्चयित्वा च गाधिजम् । उन्हें कुपित देख सरस्वती नदी ब्रह्महत्याके भयसे आलस्य छोड़ दोनोंकी आज्ञाका पालन करती हुई विश्वामित्रको धोखा देकर वसिष्ठ मुनिको पुनः पूर्व-दिशाकी ओर बहा ले गयी
ubhayor kurvatī vākyaṃ vañcayitvā ca gādhijam | taṃ kṛpitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarasvatī nadī brahmahatyābhayād ālasyaṃ tyaktvā ubhayor ājñāṃ pālayantī viśvāmitraṃ vañcayitvā vasiṣṭhaṃ muniṃ punaḥ pūrva-diśāyāṃ pravāhayām āsa |
Tendo de atender às ordens de ambos, o rio Sarasvatī recorreu a um estratagema e enganou o filho de Gādhi (Viśvāmitra). Vendo-o enfurecido e temendo o gravíssimo pecado de matar um brâmane, lançou fora a hesitação e—enquanto, por fora, parecia cumprir as duas ordens—desencaminhou Viśvāmitra e voltou a levar o sábio Vasiṣṭha, fazendo o curso correr novamente para o oriente.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the gravity of brahmahatyā (harm to a brahmin) and shows how dharma may require choosing the least harmful course when caught between conflicting commands—here, protecting Vasiṣṭha and avoiding a catastrophic sin, even through a strategic deception.
Sarasvatī, pressured by both Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, decides to outwit Viśvāmitra (Gādhi’s son). Seeing his anger and fearing the consequences of brahmin-slaying, she resumes carrying Vasiṣṭha and turns her flow back toward the east.