Shloka 23
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
तत्र चागत्य चाण्डालो हारण्ये कृतकेतन: । प्रयोजयति चोन्माथं नित्यमस्तंगते रवौ
tatra cāgatya cāṇḍālo hāraṇye kṛtaketanaḥ | prayojayati conmāthaṃ nityam astaṃgate ravau ||
قال بهيشما: «وهناك جاء رجلٌ من طبقة التشاندالا، فاتخذ له مسكناً في تلك الغابة. وكان كلَّ يومٍ إذا غربت الشمس قصد ذلك الموضع فنصب فخَّه، وثبّت حبالَه في مواضعها؛ ثم عاد إلى بيته فنام مطمئناً. فإذا أصبح الصباح عاد إلى هناك.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical scenario: a person living on the margins follows a fixed routine of laying traps at sunset and returning at dawn. In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, such details typically prepare reflection on how habitual actions, means of livelihood, and intention can carry moral weight and consequences.
A Caṇḍāla residing in a forest goes each evening after sunset to a particular place, sets a snare by arranging its cords properly, returns home to sleep, and comes back in the morning—describing a regular trapping routine.