Mahabharata 3.39.20 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, 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
vaiśampāyana uvāca | mayābhipannaḥ pūrva hi rākṣaso ’yam ihāgataḥ | kāmāt paribhavād vāpi na me jīvan vimokṣyase ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— मयाभिपन्नः पूर्वं हि राक्षसोऽयमिहागतः । कामात् परिभवाद् वापि न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यसे ॥
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.
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