Adhyaya 61 — The Second Manvantara Begins: The Brahmin’s Swift Journey and Varuthini’s Temptation on Himavat
विभ्रष्टपादलेपोऽथ चिरेण जडितक्रमः ।
चिन्तयामास किमिदं मयाज्ञानादनुष्ठितम् ॥
vibhraṣṭapādalepo 'tha cireṇa jaḍitakramaḥ /
cintayāmāsa kimidaṃ mayājñānādanuṣṭhitam
अथ चिरात् पादलेप-नाशात् मन्दगमनः सन्, स चिन्तयामास—“अज्ञानात् किमिदं मया कृतम्?” इति।
{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
The ethical pivot is accountability: recognizing one’s own ajñāna as the source of misstep is the beginning of correction; remorse is framed as inquiry rather than mere lament.
Carita with a didactic edge—psychological narration that supports dharma-teaching through lived consequence.
Loss of the ‘lepa’ and the ensuing sluggishness can symbolize the fading of borrowed power and the exposure of one’s real saṃskāras; the question ‘what have I done?’ marks the awakening of viveka (discernment).