Shloka 67
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
इष्टा वाच: प्रसृता वायसानां सम्प्रस्थितानां च गमिष्यतां च । ये पृष्ठतस्ते त्वरयन्ति राजन् ये चाग्रतस्ते प्रतिषेधयन्ति
iṣṭā vācaḥ prasṛtā vāyasānāṃ samprasthitānāṃ ca gamiṣyatāṃ ca | ye pṛṣṭhatas te tvarayanti rājan ye cāgratas te pratiṣedhayanti ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Ketika seseorang berangkat, atau baru hendak berangkat, lalu terdengar panggilan gagak yang terasa menyenangkan menyebar di sekeliling, itu dianggap pertanda keberhasilan. Wahai Raja, gagak yang berseru dari belakang seakan mendesak agar segera maju, seolah mengabarkan tercapainya tujuan; tetapi yang berseru dari depan seakan menahan, seolah memperingatkan agar tidak pergi ke medan perang.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents traditional omen-reading: the same natural sign (crows calling) is interpreted differently by direction—behind as encouragement toward success, ahead as a caution—highlighting how leaders weigh signs and counsel before entering perilous action like war.
Vyāsa addresses the king and explains the significance of crow-calls at the moment of departure, interpreting them as auspicious or inauspicious indicators for an impending expedition, implicitly connected with the decision to proceed toward battle.