Shloka 54
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
लोभयित्वाभिविश्वास्य विषयं मम शोभना: । ता राजभयभीताश्चन शापभीताक्षु योषित:,'सुन्दरियो! तुम लुभाकर उन्हें सब प्रकारसे सुख-सुविधाका विश्वास दिलाकर मेरे राज्यमें ले आना।” महाराजकी यह बात सुनते ही वेश्याओंका रंग फीका पड़ गया। वे अचेत-सी हो गयीं। एक ओर तो उन्हें राजाका भय था और दूसरी ओर वे मुनिके शापसे डरी हुई थीं; अतः उन्होंने इस कार्यको असम्भव बताया। उन सबमें एक बूढ़ी स्त्री थी। उसने राजासे इस प्रकार कहा--
lobhayitvābhiviśvāsya viṣayaṁ mama śobhanāḥ | tā rājabhayabhītāś ca śāpabhītāś ca yoṣitaḥ ||
Disse Lomaśa: “Ó belas mulheres, seduzi-o, conquistai sua confiança e trazei-o para o meu domínio, assegurando-lhe toda sorte de conforto e conveniência.” Ao ouvirem a ordem do rei, as cortesãs empalideceram; ficaram como atônitas. De um lado temiam o poder real, de outro tremiam diante da maldição do sábio; por isso declararam impossível a tarefa. Entre elas havia uma mulher idosa, que então se dirigiu ao rei do seguinte modo.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights an ethical tension: worldly authority can compel action through fear, yet spiritual authority (the fear of a sage’s curse) can restrain wrongdoing. It underscores that coercion and temptation are morally fraught, and that consequences—political and spiritual—shape human choices.
A king orders courtesans to entice certain people, gain their trust, and bring them into his realm by promising comforts. The women are shaken because they fear both the king’s punishment and a sage’s curse, so they call the mission impossible; then an elderly woman steps forward to speak to the king.