Shloka 14
Ruru–Pramadvarā: Lineage, Fosterage, Betrothal, and the Snakebite Crisis (Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 8)
तामाश्रमपदे तस्य रुरुर्दृष्टवा प्रमद्वराम् । बभूव किल धर्मात्मा मदनोपहतस्तदा,एक दिन धर्मात्मा रुसने महर्षिके आश्रममें उस प्रमद्वराको देखा। उसे देखते ही उनका हृदय तत्काल कामदेवके वशीभूत हो गया
tām āśramapade tasya rurur dṛṣṭvā pramadvarām | babhūva kila dharmātmā madanopahatas tadā ||
Sa pamayanang-ermita, nasilayan ni Ruru si Pramadvārā. Bagaman kilala siyang matuwid at sumusunod sa dharma, noon—ayon sa salaysay—siya’y tinamaan ni Kāma, at ang kanyang puso’y napailalim sa paghahari ng pagnanasa.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that even a person described as dharmātmā (righteous) can be suddenly overwhelmed by desire; the ethical focus shifts to how one governs passion and aligns subsequent action with dharma.
Ruru, at a hermitage, sees Pramadvarā and immediately becomes love-struck—described as being afflicted by Madana (Kāma)—which initiates the romantic and consequential events of their episode.