Shloka 38
नियोगप्रसङ्गः — The Niyoga Episode: Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura
उवाच च स धर्मात्मा शप्ता यूयं धरादय: । अनुसंवत्सरात् सर्वे शापमोक्षमवाप्स्थथ,उस समय धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठने उनसे कहा--“मैंने धर आदि तुम सभी वसुओंको शाप दे दिया है; परंतु तुमलोग तो प्रति वर्ष एक-एक करके सब-के-सब शापसे मुक्त हो जाओगे
uvāca ca sa dharmātmā śaptā yūyaṃ dharādayaḥ | anusaṃvatsarāt sarve śāpamokṣam avāpsyatha ||
ครั้งนั้นฤๅษีผู้ทรงธรรมกล่าวว่า “โอ้วสุทั้งหลาย ผู้มีธระเป็นต้น พวกเจ้าถูกสาปแล้ว แต่ปีแล้วปีเล่า พวกเจ้าทั้งหมดจักได้พ้นจากคำสาปนั้น”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a punishment (śāpa) is deserved, dharma can include a measured, compassionate limit: consequences are real, yet a path to release is also provided. The verse highlights proportional justice and eventual restoration.
Vasiṣṭha addresses the Vasus (named here as ‘Dhara and the others’), confirming that they are cursed, but assuring them that they will be freed from the curse in successive years—one by one—until all attain release.