Shloka 2.69.13
भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम् — Bharata’s Ominous Dream
स्वप्नेऽपि सागरं शुष्कं चन्द्रं च पतितं भवि।उपरुद्धां च जगतीं तमसेव समावृताम्।।2.69.11।।औपवाह्यस्य नागस्य विषाणं शकलीकृतम्।सहसाचापि संशान्तं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्।।2.69.12।।अवतीर्णां च पृथिवीं शुष्कां श्च विविधान् द्रुमान्।अहं पश्यामि विध्वस्तान् सधूमांश्चापि पर्वतान्।।2.69.13।।
avatīrṇāṃ ca pṛthivīṃ śuṣkāṃś ca vividhān drumān | ahaṃ paśyāmi vidhvastān sadhūmāṃś cāpi parvatān || 2.69.13 ||
I saw the earth as though it had sunk and split, many kinds of trees dried up, and even mountains ruined and smoking—visions of a world losing stability and auspiciousness.
In that dream I beheld the sea being dried up and the Moon fallen onto the ground. I saw the earth as though enveloped by darkness and obscured, the tusk of an elephant worthy of a ride by the monarch broken into pieces, a blazing fire extinguished suddenly, the earth split open, various trees dried up and mountains crumbled and covered with smoke.
Dharma is portrayed as the sustaining order of the world; when that order is threatened, the righteous person feels alarm and seeks to restore balance through truthful inquiry and responsible action. The imagery teaches that moral disorder in leadership can echo as ‘world-disorder’ in human experience.
Continuing his account of the dream, Bharata lists more catastrophic signs—earth, forests, and mountains appearing ruined—intensifying the sense of impending misfortune.
Forethought and concern for the common good: Bharata interprets the dream not as private fear alone, but as a warning relevant to the realm and the royal family.