Shloka 1.55.23
कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः — Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath
वसिष्ठस्य च ये शिष्यास्तथैव मृगपक्षिण:।विद्रवन्ति भयाद्भीता नानादिग्भ्यस्सहस्रश:।।1.55.23।।
vasiṣṭhasya ca ye śiṣyās tathaiva mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ |
vidravanti bhayād bhītā nānādigbhyaḥ sahasraśaḥ || 1.55.23 ||
Vasiṣṭha’s disciples too—and likewise the animals and birds—stricken with fear, fled in their thousands toward many directions.
The disciples of Vasishta as well as animals and birds got terrified by the fear and fled in their thousands in all directions.
Dharma recognizes the wider circle of life affected by violence; harm to a sacred community also terrorizes innocents—humans and non-humans alike.
As the astras threaten the hermitage, Vasiṣṭha’s students and the local fauna scatter in panic.
The implied virtue is compassion (dayā) and protection of dependents; its violation is made visible through the mass flight.