Shloka 21
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
अशास्यानपि शास्त्येष रक्षोबन्धुषु राजसु । सृष्ट: प्रथमतश्नण्डो ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिना,ब्रह्मवादी ब्रह्माजीने पहले इस प्रचण्ड धनुषका निर्माण किया था। यह राक्षससदृश राजाओंमेंसे अदम्य नरेशोंका भी दमन कर डालता है
aśāsyān api śāsty eṣa rakṣo-bandhuṣu rājasu | sṛṣṭaḥ prathamataś caṇḍo brahmaṇā brahma-vādinā ||
Sinabi ni Kaṇva: “Ang mabagsik na sandatang ito’y nagpapasunod maging sa mga di na maitutuwid—mga haring ang asal ay wari’y kamag-anak ng mga rākṣasa. Noong pasimula, ito’y nilikha ni Brahmā, ang nakaaalam at nagpapahayag ng banal na katotohanan. Kaya nitong supilin maging ang mga pinunong suwail, bilang pagpigil sa kapangyarihang walang batas.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and punishment (daṇḍa) are ethically justified when used to restrain incorrigible, lawless rulers; legitimate authority is grounded in dharma and, here, symbolically in a divine/sacred origin.
Kaṇva describes a formidable weapon—likened to a fierce bow—saying it was first created by Brahmā and is capable of disciplining even rākṣasa-like kings, emphasizing its role as a check on tyrannical power.