Shloka 37
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
ततो<पवाहितं दृष्टवा वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
tato ’pavāhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vasiṣṭham ṛṣisattamam | śoṇitaṃ vaha kalyāṇi rakṣogrāmaṇisammatam ||
Então, ao ver o supremo ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha ser levado para longe mais uma vez pela corrente, Viśvāmitra, incapaz de conter o ressentimento, enfureceu-se em sua dor e bradou: «Ó Sarasvatī, auspiciosa, a melhor dos rios! Tu me enganaste e tornaste a partir; por isso, em vez de água, faz correr sangue—sangue caro aos chefes dos rākṣasas!»
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Uncontrolled anger and humiliation can distort one’s sense of dharma, attempting to weaponize even sacred forces; the episode warns that spiritual or natural powers should not be bent toward cruelty and revenge.
After Vasiṣṭha is seen swept away by the river, the enraged speaker addresses Sarasvatī and orders her to flow with blood instead of water—an extreme curse-like command aimed at empowering destructive beings (rākṣasa chiefs).