Shloka 23
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement
अरण्ये नि:शलाके वा न च रात्रौ कथंचन । वानरा: पक्षिणश्वैव ये मनुष्यानुसारिण:
araṇye niḥśalāke vā na ca rātrau kathaṃcana | vānarāḥ pakṣiṇaś caiva ye manuṣyānusāriṇaḥ ||
जंगल में या दीपक-रहित स्थान में, और किसी भी प्रकार रात के समय—मनुष्यों का अनुसरण करने वाले वे वानर और पक्षी आदि पास न आने पाएँ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores disciplined conduct and caution in austere settings: one should avoid unlit places and nighttime movement, and be wary of creatures that habitually follow humans—an ethic of restraint and vigilance suited to forest/āśrama life.
Vaiśampāyana describes practical constraints and cautions relevant to life in the forest—specifying that in the wilderness, especially in darkness or at night, one must avoid situations where human-following animals like monkeys and birds may gather or cause disturbance.