Shloka 8
Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī
Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः
अचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूप॑ द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने । ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं॑ वक्ष्यन्ति पावक
acintayan mamedaṁ ye rūpaṁ drakṣyanti kānane | te brāhmaṇīnām anṛtaṁ doṣaṁ vakṣyanti pāvaka ||
Depois de refletir, disse Mārkaṇḍeya: “Ó Pāvaka (Agni), aqueles que virem esta minha forma na floresta acusarão as esposas dos brâmanes de mentira. Assim, por causa do que se vê, recairá sobre elas uma culpa imerecida.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse highlights how mere appearances can generate unjust accusations; one should guard against imputing falsehood or fault to the innocent, and consider the social harm caused by misinterpretation.
Mārkaṇḍeya, addressing Agni as Pāvaka, foresees that if people in the forest see his present form, they will conclude that the Brahmins’ wives lied and will blame them; he voices concern about the wrongful reproach that would follow.