Shloka 8
Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)
यदा बकपती राजन ब्रह्माणं नोपसर्पति । ततो रोषादिदं प्राह खगेन्द्राय पितामह:,राजन! एक समय जब बकराज ब्रह्माजीकी सभामें नहीं पहुँच सके, तब पितामहने बड़े रोषमें भरकर इन पक्षिराजको शाप देते हुए कहा--
yadā bakapati rājan brahmāṇaṁ nopasarpati | tato roṣād idaṁ prāha khagendrāya pitāmahaḥ ||
毗湿摩说：“大王啊，曾有一次，婆迦波提未曾前往梵天的会座。于是祖父神（梵天）怒起，对鸟中王者说出如下言辞，并宣下诅咒——”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic norm: due respect and timely attendance toward higher authority (especially elders and cosmic governors) matters. Neglect of such duty can trigger anger and lead to punitive outcomes, illustrating the ethical weight of discipline, humility, and accountability.
Bhishma narrates an incident to the king: Bakapati failed to come to Brahmā’s assembly. Brahmā, angered by this lapse, addressed the lord of birds and pronounced a curse—setting up the consequences that follow in the subsequent verses.