Shloka 28
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
भगवत्या: प्रसादेन गच्छेत् क्षत्र॑ं सचक्षुषम् । उपारम्य च गच्छेम सहिता: पापकर्मिण:,वे क्षत्रिय उस समय आँखकी ज्योतिसे वंचित हो बुझी हुई लपटोंवाली आगके समान अत्यन्त दुःखसे आतुर एवं अचेत हो रहे थे। अतः वे उस महान् सौभाग्यशालिनी देवीसे इस प्रकार बोले--'देवि! यदि आपकी कृपा हो तो नेत्र पाकर यह क्षत्रियोंका दल अब लौट जायगा, थोड़ी देर विश्राम करके हम सभी पापाचारी यहाँसे साथ ही चले जायँगे”
bhagavatyāḥ prasādena gacchet kṣatraṃ sacakṣuṣam | upāramya ca gacchema sahitāḥ pāpakarmiṇaḥ ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Sa biyaya ng Mapalad na Diyosa, nawa’y muling magbalik ang paningin ng pangkat na ito ng mga kṣatriya at sila’y makaalis. At matapos magpahinga nang kaunti, nawa’y kami—bagaman pasan ang kasalanan—ay lisanin din ang pook na ito nang magkakasama.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reliance on divine grace for restoration and release, coupled with moral self-awareness: even those who admit wrongdoing (pāpakarmiṇaḥ) can seek relief through humility, prayer, and a resolve to depart from harmful circumstances.
Vasiṣṭha voices a supplication to the Goddess: that the afflicted kṣatriyas regain their eyesight and then, after a short rest, that the group may leave together—framing their request as dependent on her favor and acknowledging their own culpability.