Shloka 10
Dharma-vyādha on the Subtlety of Dharma, Karma, and the Continuity of the Jīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 200)
स मुहूर्त ध्यात्वा बाष्पसम्पूर्णनयन उद्विग्न-हदयो वेपमानो विसंज्ञकल्पः प्राउजलिरब्रवीत् । किमहमेनं न प्रत्यभिज्ञास्यामीह हानेन सहस््र-कृत्वश्चितिषु यूपा आहिता:,“उसने दो घड़ीतक ध्यान करके नेत्रोंमें आँसू भरकर उद्विग्न हृदयसे काँपते हुए अचेतकी-सी दशामें हाथ जोड़कर कहा--मैं इन्हें क्यों नहीं पहचानूगा। इन्होंने एक हजार बार अग्निस्थापनके समय यज्ञ-यूपोंकी स्थापना की है
sa muhūrtaṁ dhyātvā bāṣpa-sampūrṇa-nayana udvigna-hṛdayo vepamāno visaṁjña-kalpaḥ prāñjalir abravīt— kim aham enaṁ na pratyabhijñāsyāmīha? anena sahasra-kṛtvaś citīṣu yūpā āhitāḥ.
Matapos magmuni sandali, napuno ng luha ang kanyang mga mata; nabagabag ang kanyang dibdib, nanginginig ang katawan, at halos mawalan ng ulirat. Magkapatong ang mga palad, sinabi niya: “Paano ko siya hindi makikilala rito? Kasama ng taong ito, isang libong ulit kong naitindig ang mga haliging panghandog (yūpa) sa mga dambanang apoy.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how past dharmic and ritual associations create powerful bonds of recognition and reverence; when such a person is encountered in a tense moment, the mind is shaken, and respect (añjali) arises even amid fear and grief.
A character, overwhelmed with emotion, pauses to reflect, then—trembling and tearful—folds his hands and declares that he cannot fail to recognize the person before him, recalling that they had together installed sacrificial posts at fire-altars many times.