Shloka 4
कुन्ती–व्याससंवादः
Kuntī–Vyāsa Dialogue on Durvāsā’s Boon and Karṇa’s Birth
स विवृद्धस्तदा वद्िवने तस्मिन्नभूत् किल । तेन तद् वनमादीप्तमिति ते तापसाब्रुवन्,कहते हैं, वही अग्नि बढ़कर उस वनमें सब ओर फैल गयी और उसीने उस सारे वनको भस्मसात् कर दिया--यह बात मुझसे वहाँके तापसोंने बतायी थी
sa vivṛddhas tadā vahnir vane tasminn abhūt kila | tena tad vanaṃ ādīptam iti te tāpasābruvan |
Mereka mengatakan bahwa api itu sendiri tumbuh besar dan bangkit di hutan itu. Para pertapa di sana memberitahuku bahwa ia menjalar ke seluruh rimba dan, menyala dari segala penjuru, membakar habis semuanya hingga menjadi abu.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence and the swift, uncontrollable spread of consequences: once a destructive force is kindled and allowed to grow, it can consume an entire environment. Ethically, it cautions against negligence and highlights the reliability of testimony from disciplined witnesses (tāpasas).
Nārada reports what he learned from the forest ascetics: a fire intensified, spread throughout the forest, and burned it completely. The statement is framed as second-hand but trustworthy information conveyed by the tāpasas.