Shloka 95
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
गृध्र उवाच अयं प्रेतसमाकीर्णो यक्षराक्षससेवित: । दारुण: काननोददेश: कौशिकैरभिनादित:,तब गीधने कहा--मनुष्यो! यह वन्य प्रदेश प्रेतोंसे भरा हुआ है। इसमें बहुत-से यक्ष और राक्षस निवास करते हैं तथा कितने ही उल्लू हू-हू की आवाज कर रहे हैं; अतः यह स्थान बड़ा भयंकर है
gṛdhra uvāca | ayaṃ pretasamākīrṇo yakṣarākṣasasevitaḥ | dāruṇaḥ kānanoddeśaḥ kauśikair abhināditaḥ ||
ગીધે કહ્યું—હે મનુષ્યો! આ પ્રદેશ પ્રેતો વડે ભરેલો છે અને યક્ષ-રાક્ષસોનું સેવિત છે. આ અરણ્યપ્રદેશ અત્યંત દારુણ છે અને ઘુવડોના નાદથી ગુંજે છે; તેથી આ સ્થાન મહાભયંકર છે.
गृध्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores prudent discernment: when signs indicate danger—whether natural (a harsh wilderness) or symbolic (spirits, ominous cries)—one should not proceed blindly. Ethical action includes caution, situational awareness, and avoiding needless risk.
A vulture addresses a person (implied by the context) and warns that the surrounding forest-region is frightening and perilous, described as crowded with spirits, inhabited by Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, and echoing with the calls of owls—an ominous soundscape signaling danger.