Shloka 13
विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest
Southern Search
तस्य तस्मिन्वने पुत्रो बालष्षोडशवार्षिकः।प्रणष्टो जीवितान्ताय क्रुद्धस्तत्र महामुनिः।।।।
tasya tasmin vane putro bālaḥ ṣoḍaśavārṣikaḥ | praṇaṣṭo jīvitāntāya kruddhas tatra mahāmuniḥ || 4.48.13 ||
तस्मिन् वने तस्य पुत्रो बालः षोडशवार्षिकः प्रणष्टः, जीवितान्ताय गतः; तत्र महामुनिः क्रुद्धोऽभवत्।
The great sage was enraged because he had lost his sixteen-year-old son in the forest.
FAQs
The verse highlights how unchecked anger arising from grief can turn into destructive action; dharma calls for restraint even amid suffering.
The backstory is given: the sage’s son dies after being lost in the forest, triggering the sage’s wrath.
By contrast (through its failure), the needed virtue is kṣamā/dama—patience and self-control.