Shloka 20
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
मयाभिपन्नः पूर्व हि राक्षमो5यमिहागत: । कामात् परिभवाद् वापि न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यसे,“यह राक्षस पहले यहीं मेरे पास आया था और मैंने इसे काबूमें कर लिया था। आपने किसी कामनासे इस शूकरको मारा हो या मेरा तिरस्कार करनेके लिये। किसी दशामें भी मैं आपको जीवित नहीं छोडूँगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | mayābhipannaḥ pūrva hi rākṣaso ’yam ihāgataḥ | kāmāt paribhavād vāpi na me jīvan vimokṣyase ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Este rākṣasa veio aqui antes, e eu já o havia subjugado. Quer tenhas matado este javali por desejo, quer para me insultar, de todo modo não te deixarei partir com vida.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how actions driven by desire (kāma) or contempt (paribhava) provoke escalation and retaliation; it frames conflict as rooted in motive and honor, warning that impulsive or insulting conduct can lead to severe consequences.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) asserts that the rākṣasa had already been subdued earlier, and accuses the other party of killing the boar either out of desire or to insult him; he then vows not to spare the person’s life.