Shloka 78
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
सावित्रयुवाच अस्मिन्नद्य वने दग्धे शुष्कवृक्ष: स्थितो ज्वलन् । वायुना धम्यमानोजअत्र दृश्यतेडग्नि: क्वचित् क्वचित्,सावित्रीने कहा--आज इस वनमें आग लगी थी। इसमें एक सूखा वृक्ष खड़ा है, जो जल रहा है। हवा लगनेसे उसमें कहीं-कहीं आग दिखायी देती है
sāvitrī uvāca: asminn adya vane dagdhe śuṣka-vṛkṣaḥ sthito jvalan | vāyunā dhāmyamāno ’tra dṛśyate ’gniḥ kvacit kvacit ||
Sāvitrī said: “Today this forest has been scorched by fire. Here stands a dry tree, still burning; fanned by the wind, fire can be seen flickering in it here and there.”
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid natural image—residual fire in a dry tree, stirred by wind—to highlight how latent forces can reappear when conditions support them, encouraging careful discernment and vigilance in judging situations.
Sāvitrī points out a forest that has recently burned and describes a dry tree still smoldering; as the wind blows, flames become visible intermittently, setting the scene for the surrounding dialogue.