Shloka 99
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
चिताधूमेन नीलेन संरज्यन्ते च पादपा: । श्मशाने च निराहारा: प्रतिनर्दन्ति देहिन:,चिताके काले धुएँसे यहाँके सारे वृक्ष उसी रंगमें रंग गये हैं। श्मशानभूमिमें यहाँके निराहार प्राणी (प्रेत-पिशाच आदि) गरज रहे हैं
citādhūmena nīlena saṃrajyante ca pādapāḥ | śmaśāne ca nirāhārāḥ pratinardanti dehinaḥ ||
Oleh asap gelap kebiruan dari tumpukan pembakaran, pepohonan di sini pun ternoda dengan warna yang sama. Dan di tanah kremasi ini, makhluk-makhluk yang hidup tanpa makanan—para preta dan piśāca—mengaum menyahut.
गृध्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and contemplative force of mortality: the cremation-ground’s smoke stains even the surrounding trees, reminding one that death’s presence permeates the world. Such imagery urges detachment, sobriety, and a dharmic awareness of impermanence.
The vulture describes a cremation-ground scene: smoke from pyres has darkened the trees, and uncanny, hungerless beings (understood in context as restless spirits) are making loud, echoing cries—an atmosphere of dread and inauspiciousness.