Shloka 20
कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī
राजन! तदनन्तर वे भूखसे पीड़ित हुए राक्षस उन सभी कृपालु मुनियोंसे बारंबार हाथ जोड़कर कहने लगे--“महात्माओ! हम भूखे हैं। सनातन धर्मसे भ्रष्ट हो गये हैं ।।
naca naḥ kāmakāro 'yaṃ yad vayaṃ pāpakāriṇaḥ | yuṣmākaṃ cāprasādena duṣkṛtena ca karmaṇā ||
毗舍波耶那说道：“王啊，此后那些罗刹为饥饿所苦，屡屡合掌俯伏于诸位慈悲的牟尼之前，说道：‘大德啊，我们饥饿。我们已背离永恒之达摩（sanātana-dharma）。我们成为作恶之人，并非真出于自由意志；而是由于圣者的不悦，以及我们自身恶业的果报，才堕入这般凄惨境地。’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral causality: suffering is linked to prior wrongdoing (duṣkṛta-karma) and to the loss of the wise persons’ favor (aprasāda). It also shows a movement toward accountability and repentance—recognizing that deviation from sanātana-dharma leads to degradation and distress.
After being afflicted by hunger, the rākṣasas approach the compassionate sages with folded hands. They confess their fallen state and explain that their sinful condition is tied to both their misdeeds and the sages’ displeasure, seeking relief or guidance.