Shloka 45

Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)

Devanagari script

तेषां प्रादुष्कृताग्नीनां मुहुर्ते रम्यदारुणे । ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कार: संजल्प: समजायत,संध्याकालकी नैसर्गिक शोभासे रमणीय तथा राक्षस-पिशाचादिके संचरणका समय होनेसे अत्यन्त भयंकर प्रतीत होनेवाले उस मुहूर्तमें अग्नि प्रजजलित करके वेद-मन्त्रोंके घोषपूर्वक अग्निहोत्र करनेके बाद उन ब्राह्मणोंमें परस्पर संवाद होने लगा

Transliteration

teṣāṁ prāduṣkṛtāgnīnāṁ muhūrte ramya-dāruṇe | brahma-ghoṣa-puraskāraḥ sañjalpaḥ samajāyata ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。黄昏の刻—自然の美に満ちつつも、ラークシャサやピシャーチャが徘徊すると言われるがゆえに恐ろしさを帯びるその時—ブラーフマナたちは聖火を焚き起こした。ヴェーダの真言を高らかに先唱して儀礼を終えると、祭場の厳粛さに包まれたまま、彼らの間に語らいが生まれた。

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them

प्रादुष्कृतkindled / made manifest

अग्नीनाम्of the fires

मुहूर्तेat the moment (muhūrta)

रम्यpleasant / charming

दारुणेterrible / dreadful

ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कारःhaving Vedic recitation as the prelude

संजल्पःconversation / dialogue

समजायतarose / came to be

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

brāhmaṇas

sacred fires (agni)

Vedic mantra-recitation (brahma-ghoṣa)

twilight (sandhyā implied by context)

rākṣasas

piśācas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic order through ritual: sacred fire and Vedic recitation create a protective, disciplined space even at liminal times (twilight) considered spiritually risky. Ethical emphasis lies on steadiness in prescribed duties and the power of regulated speech (mantra) to orient conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

At a twilight moment described as both beautiful and ominous, the brāhmaṇas kindle their fires and perform rites with Vedic chanting. After completing the ritual setting, they begin a formal conversation among themselves.