Shloka 23
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
तं वै शब्दं विदुरस्तत्त्ववेदी शुश्राव घोरं सुबलात्मजा च | भीष्मो द्रोणो गौतमश्नापि विद्वान् स्वस्ति स्वस्तीत्यपि चैवाहुरुच्चै:
taṃ vai śabdaṃ viduras tattvavedī śuśrāva ghoraṃ subalātmajā ca | bhīṣmo droṇo gautamaś cāpi vidvān svasti svastīty api caivāhuruccaiḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Vidura, the knower of truth, heard that dreadful sound, and so did Gāndhārī, the daughter of Subala. Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and the learned Kṛpa of Gautama’s line also heard that inauspicious noise. Then they all cried aloud, “Svasti, svasti!”—invoking well-being to ward off the evil omen.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic reflex in the face of ominous signs: wise elders recognize inauspicious portents and respond with protective, auspicious speech (“svasti”), reflecting the ethical duty to safeguard the community and restrain fear through sanctioned ritual utterance.
A frightening, inauspicious sound is heard in the Kuru setting. Vidura and Gāndhārī, along with Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa, perceive it as a bad omen and collectively utter “svasti, svasti” aloud to avert harm.