Shloka 8
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
तथा स पित्राभिहतो वाग्वज्रेण कृताञज्जलि: । प्रसीदेति ब्रुवन्नेव गतसत्त्वोडपतद् भुवि
tathā sa pitrābhihato vāgvajreṇa kṛtāñjaliḥ | prasīdeti bruvann eva gatasattvo ’patad bhuvi ||
Так, поражённый отцом громом речи, Начикетас сложил ладони в почтении и взмолился: «Смилуйся, о владыка». Но едва он произнёс эти слова, как жизненная сила оставила его, и он пал на землю.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of speech: words can wound like a weapon (vāg-vajra). It implicitly commends restraint and compassion in speech, and shows the virtue of humility and supplication even under provocation.
A person is verbally struck by his father—described as being hit by a ‘thunderbolt of speech.’ He responds by joining his hands and pleading for the father’s grace, but his strength/life gives way and he collapses to the ground.