Shloka 19
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय २: संजयस्य दिव्यदृष्टिप्रदानम् तथा निमित्तवर्णनम्
Granting Sañjaya Divine Sight and the Description of Omens
निर्दयं चाभिवाशन्तो भैरवा भयवेदिन: । कड्का: प्रयान्ति मध्येन दक्षिणामभितो दिशम्
nirdayaṃ cābhivāśanto bhairavā bhayavedinaḥ | kaṅkāḥ prayānti madhyena dakṣiṇām abhito diśam ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Burung-burung kaṅka yang mengerikan—pertanda datangnya ketakutan—menjerit dengan suara keras, melintas di tengah bala tentara, lalu bergerak menuju penjuru selatan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses omen imagery to underline the moral gravity of war: violence draws death and scavengers, and nature itself appears to warn of the consequences. It frames the coming battle as a dharmic crisis where choices lead to inevitable suffering.
As the armies prepare, ominous birds (kaṅkas) cry harshly and fly through the ranks toward the south, a direction traditionally associated with Yama and death. Their behavior is presented as a sign of imminent carnage on the battlefield.