Mahabharata 3.156.5 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 156, Shloka 5
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
सलोहिता दिशश्वासन् खरवाचो मृगद्धिजा: । तमोवृतमभूत् सर्व न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
salohitā diśaśvāsan kharavāco mṛgadvijāḥ | tamovṛtam abhūt sarvaṁ na prājñāyata kiñcana ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The quarters seemed to flush red, while beasts and birds cried out with harsh, ominous calls. Darkness covered everything, and nothing could be clearly perceived. The scene signals a moral disturbance in the world-order—an outward manifestation of inner disorder—warning that when adharma rises, nature itself appears to recoil and human discernment fails.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys that moral and cosmic order are intertwined: when grave wrongdoing or impending calamity approaches, the world is portrayed as giving signs—nature turns ominous and human clarity (discernment) collapses. It cautions readers to heed ethical imbalance and its consequences.
A sudden, ominous atmosphere arises: the horizons appear blood-red, animals and birds utter harsh cries, and darkness envelops everything so that nothing can be clearly seen. This functions as a narrative omen indicating an approaching crisis.
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