Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
त॑ वै संयुज्य शापेन मण्डूकं॑ त्वरितो ययौ । अन्यत्र वासाय विभुर्न चात्मानमदर्शयत्,मेढकको शाप देकर वे तुरंत दूसरी जगह निवास करनेके लिये चले गये। सर्वव्यापी अग्निने अपने-आपको प्रकट नहीं किया
taṁ vai saṁyujya śāpena maṇḍūkaṁ tvarito yayau | anyatra vāsāya vibhur na cātmānam adarśayat ||
Bhīṣma nói: Sau khi trói buộc con ếch bằng lời nguyền ấy, Agni liền vội vã ra đi để trú ngụ nơi khác. Đấng hùng vĩ, hiện hữu khắp nơi, từ đó không còn tự bộc lộ công khai nữa.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical gravity of a curse (śāpa): once uttered, it binds and produces consequences, prompting even a powerful being to withdraw rather than act with unchecked display—implying restraint, responsibility in speech, and acceptance of moral causality.
After being connected with (or subjected to) a curse, Maṇḍūka quickly leaves to live elsewhere. Agni, described as vibhū (mighty/all-pervading), does not reveal himself—indicating a purposeful concealment following the cursing event.