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Shloka 8

उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents

पृथग्जनस्य सर्वस्य क्षुद्रका: प्रहसन्ति च । नृत्यन्ति परिगायन्ति वेदयन्तो महद्‌ भयम्‌,समस्त नीच जातियोंके घरोंमें उत्पन्न हुए काने, कुबड़े आदि बालक भी महान्‌ भयकी सूचना देते हुए जोर-जोरसे हँसते, गाते और नाचते हैं

pṛthagjanasya sarvasya kṣudrakāḥ prahasanti ca | nṛtyanti parigāyanti vedayanto mahad bhayam ||

Vyāsa sagte: „Unter dem einfachen Volk überall lachen selbst niedrig geborene Kinder — wie der Einäugige und der Bucklige — laut auf, singen und tanzen, als verkündeten sie eine große, unheilvolle Furcht. Die Welt selbst scheint Warnzeichen zu senden, dass der kommende Konflikt weithin Schrecken und Unordnung bringen wird.“

पृथक्separately, in various places
पृथक्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक्
FormAvyaya (indeclinable adverb)
जनस्यof the people
जनस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सर्वस्यof all
सर्वस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (agreeing with जनस्य)
क्षुद्रकाःmean/low persons (wretches)
क्षुद्रकाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुद्रक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रहसन्तिlaugh loudly
प्रहसन्ति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हस्
FormPresent (Lat), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
FormAvyaya (conjunction)
नृत्यन्तिdance
नृत्यन्ति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनृत्
FormPresent (Lat), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
परिaround; intensifier (as preverb)
परि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरि
FormUpasarga (preverb)
गायन्तिsing
गायन्ति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootगै
FormPresent (Lat), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
वेदयन्तःindicating, making known
वेदयन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवेदयत्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural (agreeing with क्षुद्रकाः)
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular (agreeing with भयम्)
भयम्fear, terror
भयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
P
pṛthagjana (common people)
K
kṣudrakāḥ (lowly persons/children)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how adharma and impending mass violence are preceded by unsettling social and psychological disturbances. When the moral order weakens, even ordinary public behavior can appear distorted, functioning as a warning that fear and chaos are approaching.

Vyāsa describes ominous portents seen among the populace: people of low status and even deformed children are depicted as laughing, singing, and dancing in a way that signals a great fear. This is part of the broader catalogue of signs foretelling the calamity of the Kurukṣetra war.