Shloka 14
पत्नीसरूपतां कृत्वा कामयामास पावकम् | दिव्यरूपमरुन्धत्या: कर्तु न शकितं तया
patnīsarūpatāṁ kṛtvā kāmayāmāsa pāvakam | divyarūpam aruṇdhatyāḥ kartuṁ na śakitaṁ tayā ||
Disse Mārkaṇḍeya: Assumindo as formas das esposas dos sábios, ela desejou unir-se a Agni. Contudo, não conseguiu tomar a forma divina de Arundhatī, pois a austeridade (tapas) de Arundhatī e seu devotado serviço ao marido tornavam essa forma inalcançável. Por isso, ela só teve êxito seis vezes em receber e depositar ali a semente de Agni—permanecendo Arundhatī, pelo poder de seu dharma, além de toda imitação.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that genuine virtue—especially Arundhatī’s tapas and steadfast devotion to dharma—creates a spiritual power that cannot be replicated by mere external imitation. Ethical strength rooted in disciplined conduct becomes a protective force.
A woman attempts to approach Agni by taking on the forms of the wives of the Seven Sages. She can imitate six of them, but she cannot assume Arundhatī’s divine form because Arundhatī’s austerity and devoted service to her husband make her spiritually inimitable; thus the attempt succeeds only six times.