Shloka 3
Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)
पुरा हि नैमिषीयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके
purā hi naimiṣīyāṇāṁ satre dvādaśavārṣike, krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Long ago, at the twelve-year sacrificial session of the sages of Naimiṣa, a righteous and mighty ascetic, seized by intense anger, acted in a way that shows how even great spiritual power, when joined to wrath, can become destructive and morally consequential.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral tension: even a dharmātmā (righteous person) can be overtaken by krodha (anger). In epic ethics, anger is a force that can hijack tapas and power, turning spiritual potency toward harmful outcomes, thereby creating grave karmic and social consequences.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recalls an earlier event that occurred during a twelve-year satra at Naimiṣa. A powerful, righteous figure became overwhelmed by great anger—setting up the backstory for a consequential act that follows in the surrounding passage.