Shloka 24

Devanagari script

वर्षके वेगसे बहुतेरे पक्षी मरकर धरतीपर लोट गये थे। कितने ही अपने घोंसलोंमें छिपे बैठे थे। मृग, सिंह और सूअर स्थल-भूमिका आश्रय लेकर सो रहे थे ।। महता वातवर्षेण त्रासितास्ते वनौकस: । भयातत्षि क्षुधार्ताश्न॒ बश्रमु: सहिता वने,भारी आँधी और वर्षासे आंतकित हुए वनवासी जीव-जन्तु भय और भूखसे पीड़ित हो झुंड-के-झुंड एक साथ घूम रहे थे

Transliteration

mahatā vātavarṣeṇa trāsitās te vanaukasaḥ | bhayāt tṛṣṇā-kṣudhārtāś ca babhramuḥ sahitā vane ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Driven into panic by a fierce storm and heavy rain, the creatures of the forest—tormented by fear, thirst, and hunger—wandered about together in groups within the woods.

Word by Word

महताby a great

वातवर्षेणby wind-and-rain (storm)

त्रासिताःterrified

तेthose

वनौकसःforest-dwellers

भयात्from fear

तृष्णाwith thirst

क्षुधाwith hunger

आर्ताःafflicted

चand

बभ्रमुःwandered/roamed

सहिताःtogether, in groups

वनेin the forest

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

forest-dwelling creatures (vanaukasaḥ)

forest (vana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the shared vulnerability of living beings: when overwhelming conditions arise, fear and basic needs (thirst and hunger) dominate, and creatures naturally seek safety through togetherness. In the ethical frame of Śānti Parva, such imagery supports compassion and restraint by reminding the listener that all beings are subject to distress.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a violent storm and heavy rain that terrify the forest animals. Afflicted by fear, thirst, and hunger, they move about in groups within the forest, portraying a scene of widespread natural calamity and its impact on life.