Shloka 19
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
अथ वायु: समुद्भूतो दावाग्निरभवन्महान् | ददाह तद् वन सर्व परिगृह् समनन््ततः
atha vāyuḥ samudbhūto dāvāgnir abhavan mahān | dadāha tad vana sarvaṃ parigṛhya samanantataḥ ||
Nārada sprach: Da erhob sich ein Wind, und aus ihm brach ein gewaltiger Waldbrand hervor. Von allen Seiten umhüllte er das Gehölz und verbrannte den ganzen Wald—ein unheilvolles Zeichen, das zeigt, wie rasch weltliche Stützen verzehrt werden, wenn Zeit und Umstände sich widrig wenden.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights impermanence: even a settled refuge like a forest-āśrama can be suddenly consumed. It supports the Mahābhārata’s ethical mood of vairāgya—non-attachment and readiness to meet change without clinging.
Nārada narrates that a strong wind arises and a great wildfire breaks out, spreading in all directions and burning the entire forest, signaling a decisive and dangerous shift in the situation of those dwelling there.