Shloka 6
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
गोवत्सं वडवा सूते श्वा सृगालं महीपते । कुक्कुरान् करभाश्नैव शुकाश्नाशुभवादिन:,भूपाल! घोड़ी गायके बछड़ेको जन्म देती है, कुतियाके पेटसे सियार पैदा होता है, हाथी कुत्तोंको जन्म देते हैं और तोते भी अशुभसूचक बोली बोलने लगे हैं
govatsaṁ vaḍavā sūte śvā sṛgālaṁ mahīpate | kukkurān karabhāś caiva śukāś cāśubhavādinaḥ ||
Vyāsa dijo: «Oh rey, el orden natural ha sido trastornado: una yegua da a luz un ternero; una perra pare un chacal; aun las asnas engendran perros; y los loros han comenzado a proferir palabras infaustas y de mal agüero. Estos presagios anuncian un grave desorden moral y social, y anticipan la calamidad y la maduración del adharma antes de la gran guerra».
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma declines, disorder appears not only in society but is also mirrored by ‘unnatural’ signs in nature. The verse uses shocking inversions of birth and speech as a moral warning: adharma ripens into collective suffering, and wise rulers should recognize such signs as a call to restraint and right conduct.
Vyāsa addresses the king and lists terrifying omens—animals producing offspring of other species and birds speaking ominously. These are presented as portents that the world’s order is disturbed and that a catastrophic outcome, namely the impending great war and its destruction, is near.