Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
तत्र देवस्तया सार्ध रेमे राजन् जलेश्वर: । अथाख्यातमुतथ्याय तत: पत्न्यवमर्दनम्
tatra devas tayā sārdha reme rājan jaleśvaraḥ | athākhyātam utathyāya tataḥ patny-avamardanam ||
O hari, doon ay nakipaglaro sa pag-ibig si Varuṇa, panginoon ng mga tubig, kasama niya. Pagkaraan, ibinalita ni Nārada kay Utathya na si Varuṇa’y dumukot sa kanyang asawa at nilapastangan ang dangal nito.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the dharmic gravity of violating another’s spouse: even a powerful being’s act is framed as a serious moral transgression (patnī-avamardana), implying that status does not exempt one from ethical accountability.
Varuṇa, described as the lord of the waters, is said to be enjoying with Utathya’s wife; afterward Nārada informs Utathya of the outrage—reporting that Varuṇa seized and dishonoured her—thereby setting up the ensuing response to this breach of dharma.