Shloka 18
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
न च श्रेयो5 ध्यगच्छत्तु क्षीयते राष्ट्रमेव च । यदा स पार्थिव: खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदानघ
na ca śreyo 'dhyagacchat tu kṣīyate rāṣṭram eva ca | yadā sa pārthivaḥ khinnas te ca viprās tadānagha, krodhena mahatā 'viṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān ||
Вайшампаяна сказал: «И всё же истинного блага не достигли; само царство день ото дня истощалось. Когда тот царь пал духом — и те брахманы тоже, о безгрешный, — праведный и могучий муж, охваченный великим гневом, поступил так, что навлёк погибель на державу».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one seeks ‘śreyas’ (true welfare), outcomes can fail if governance and conduct do not align with dharma; unchecked anger (krodha) can overpower even a dharmic person and become a cause of collective harm, including the wasting of a kingdom.
Vaiśampāyana reports that no beneficial result was achieved and the realm kept deteriorating; the king and accompanying brahmins became dejected, and a powerful, righteous figure—overcome by intense anger—takes (or is about to take) actions that contribute to the kingdom’s ruin.