Shloka 28
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
भगवत्या: प्रसादेन गच्छेत् क्षत्र॑ं सचक्षुषम् । उपारम्य च गच्छेम सहिता: पापकर्मिण:,वे क्षत्रिय उस समय आँखकी ज्योतिसे वंचित हो बुझी हुई लपटोंवाली आगके समान अत्यन्त दुःखसे आतुर एवं अचेत हो रहे थे। अतः वे उस महान् सौभाग्यशालिनी देवीसे इस प्रकार बोले--'देवि! यदि आपकी कृपा हो तो नेत्र पाकर यह क्षत्रियोंका दल अब लौट जायगा, थोड़ी देर विश्राम करके हम सभी पापाचारी यहाँसे साथ ही चले जायँगे”
bhagavatyāḥ prasādena gacchet kṣatraṃ sacakṣuṣam | upāramya ca gacchema sahitāḥ pāpakarmiṇaḥ ||
婆悉吒说道：“承蒙圣母女神的慈恩，愿这群刹帝利重得眼光而离去。稍作歇息之后，愿我们——纵然背负罪业——也一同离开此地。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reliance on divine grace for restoration and release, coupled with moral self-awareness: even those who admit wrongdoing (pāpakarmiṇaḥ) can seek relief through humility, prayer, and a resolve to depart from harmful circumstances.
Vasiṣṭha voices a supplication to the Goddess: that the afflicted kṣatriyas regain their eyesight and then, after a short rest, that the group may leave together—framing their request as dependent on her favor and acknowledging their own culpability.