Shloka 12
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
पितृविप्रवधेनाहमार्तो वै पाण्डवाग्रज । शुचिर्भूत्वा महादेवं गतो5स्मि शरणं नूप
pitṛ-vipra-vadhena aham ārto vai pāṇḍavāgraja | śucir bhūtvā mahādevaṁ gato 'smi śaraṇaṁ nṛpa ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“噢，般度诸子之长，噢，大王，我因杀害如父之人，又杀一婆罗门，而招致弑父之罪与杀婆罗门之罪，故为忧苦所煎。为求内心清净，我前往大天（Mahādeva）处求归依。既已投诚，我便以这些名号赞颂鲁陀罗；大天甚悦，赐我其斧与诸天界神兵，并宣言：‘罪垢不复附汝。汝于战阵将不可征服；死神不能制汝，汝将免于衰老与死亡。’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even grave moral transgressions (such as killing elders or a brāhmaṇa) generate intense inner suffering and ethical burden; the passage emphasizes purification through sincere surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion, and portrays divine grace as capable of lifting guilt and restoring strength when one seeks refuge with humility and purity of intent.
The speaker recounts being overwhelmed by remorse for killings that amount to pitṛ-vadha and vipra-vadha. He approaches Mahādeva (Śiva) as a refuge, praises Rudra, and receives Śiva’s favor—symbolized by the gift of the axe and divine weapons and by assurances of freedom from sin and invincibility.