Shloka 8
Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)
यदा बकपती राजन ब्रह्माणं नोपसर्पति । ततो रोषादिदं प्राह खगेन्द्राय पितामह:,राजन! एक समय जब बकराज ब्रह्माजीकी सभामें नहीं पहुँच सके, तब पितामहने बड़े रोषमें भरकर इन पक्षिराजको शाप देते हुए कहा--
yadā bakapati rājan brahmāṇaṁ nopasarpati | tato roṣād idaṁ prāha khagendrāya pitāmahaḥ ||
राजन्नेकदा बकपतिः ब्रह्मणः सभां नोपसर्पत्; ततः पितामहः क्रोधसमाविष्टः खगेन्द्रं प्रति शापपूर्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic norm: due respect and timely attendance toward higher authority (especially elders and cosmic governors) matters. Neglect of such duty can trigger anger and lead to punitive outcomes, illustrating the ethical weight of discipline, humility, and accountability.
Bhishma narrates an incident to the king: Bakapati failed to come to Brahmā’s assembly. Brahmā, angered by this lapse, addressed the lord of birds and pronounced a curse—setting up the consequences that follow in the subsequent verses.