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Shloka 5

Raibhya-putrayoḥ satra-vṛttāntaḥ — The Satra Episode of Raibhya’s Sons

Parāvasu and Arvāvasu

जघन्यरात्रे निद्रान्ध: सावशेषे तमस्यपि । चरन्तं गहने5रण्ये मेने स पितरं मृगम्‌,रातका पिछला पहर बीत रहा था और अभी अन्धकार शेष था। परावसु नींदसे अन्धे हो रहे थे; अतः उन्होंने गहन वनमें विचरते हुए अपने पिताको हिंसक पशु ही समझा

jaghanyarātre nidrāndhaḥ sāvaśeṣe tamasy api | carantaṃ gahane 'raṇye mene sa pitaraṃ mṛgam ||

في الهزيع الأخير من الليل، والظلمةُ لا تزال باقية، كان بَرَافَسُو مُغَشّىً بالنُّعاس، يهيم في غابةٍ كثيفة، فظنَّ أباه الذي كان يتحرّك هناك وحشًا بريًّا. وتُبيّن الآية كيف أن الإهمال وغشاوة الإدراك قد يفضيان إلى خطأٍ أخلاقيٍّ فادح، ولا سيما حين يعجز المرء عن معرفة من عليه له أسمى واجبٍ في الحماية والرعاية.

जघन्यin the last (part of the night)
जघन्य:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootजघन्य
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
रात्रेat night
रात्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरात्रि
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
निद्रा-अन्धःblinded by sleep
निद्रा-अन्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिद्रान्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स-अवशेषेwhile (it) still remained
स-अवशेषे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअवशेष
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तमसिin darkness
तमसि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
चरन्तम्wandering/moving about
चरन्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ)
गहनेin a dense (place)
गहने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootगहन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अरण्येin the forest
अरण्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअरण्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मेनेthought/considered
मेने:
TypeVerb
Rootमन्
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पितरम्father
पितरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मृगम्a deer/animal
मृगम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमृग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

लोगश उवाच

P
Parāvasu
H
his father (pitā)
D
dense forest (gahana araṇya)
N
night/last watch (jaghanya-rātri)

Educational Q&A

When the mind is clouded—by sleep, haste, or negligence—one’s discernment fails, and that failure can become a grave ethical transgression. The verse warns that dharma depends not only on intention but also on alertness and correct recognition, especially regarding one’s duties toward parents and elders.

During the final watch of the night, with darkness still present, Parāvasu moves through a dense forest while drowsy. In that impaired state he mistakes his father, who is walking there, for a wild beast—setting up the tragic mistake that follows in the story.