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 ||
Baik di hutan maupun di tempat tanpa pelita—dan dalam keadaan apa pun jangan pada malam hari—kera dan burung yang biasa mengikuti jejak manusia itu jangan sampai dibiarkan mendekat.
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.