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Shloka 13

Takṣaka’s agency, Parīkṣit’s rites, and Janamejaya’s enthronement (वैयासिक परम्परा-प्रसङ्गः)

स कदाचिन्मृगं विद्ध्वा बाणेनानतपर्वणा । पृष्ठतो धनुरादाय ससार गहने वने,एक दिन उन्होंने गहन वनमें धनुष लेकर झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणसे एक हिंसक पशुको बींध डाला और भागनेपर बहुत दूरतक उसका पीछा किया

sa kadācin mṛgaṁ viddhvā bāṇenānataparvaṇā | pṛṣṭhato dhanur ādāya sasāra gahane vane ||

Una vez, tras herir a un ciervo con una flecha de nudos curvados, tomó el arco a la espalda y se lanzó tras él, internándose en lo más espeso del bosque. Aquel instante de caza y persecución puso en marcha una cadena de consecuencias: probaría la templanza, la responsabilidad por los propios actos y el peso ético del daño causado, aun cuando se lo haga en un marco acostumbrado.

सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कदाचित्once, at some time
कदाचित्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकदाचित्
मृगम्a deer/animal
मृगम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमृग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विद्ध्वाhaving pierced/shot
विद्ध्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यध् (विध्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
बाणेनwith an arrow
बाणेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
आनतपर्वणाwith a bent-jointed (crooked-knotted) one
आनतपर्वणा:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootआनतपर्वन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
पृष्ठतःfrom behind/behind
पृष्ठतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृष्ठतः
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आदायhaving taken
आदाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + दा
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
ससारran/hastened
ससार:
TypeVerb
Rootसृ
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
गहनेin dense (thicket)
गहने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootगहन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
वनेin the forest
वने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

शौनक उवाच

शौनक (Śaunaka)
मृग (deer)
बाण (arrow)
धनुस् (bow)
वन (forest)

Educational Q&A

Even ordinary acts like hunting can become morally significant when they lead to suffering and further choices. The verse foregrounds causality: a single harmful act initiates consequences that demand accountability and self-restraint.

A man wounds a deer with a specially described arrow and then, taking up his bow, pursues the fleeing animal deep into a dense forest—an action that functions as the trigger for the ensuing episode.