Shloka 4
रावणोत्पत्तिः—तपसा वरलाभश्च
Rāvaṇa’s Origins and the Acquisition of Boons
एवमुक्ता: पाण्डवेन कौन्तेयेन यशस्विना । प्रत्यब्रुवन् मृगास्तत्र हतशेषा युधिष्ठिरम्,यशस्वी पाण्डव कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर मरनेसे बचे हुए हिंसक पशुओंने उनसे कहा--
evam uktāḥ pāṇḍavena kaunteyena yaśasvinā | pratyabruvan mṛgās tatra hataśeṣā yudhiṣṭhiram ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。こうしてパーンダヴァの中でも名高いクンティーの子に問われると、その場の獣たち—殺戮を生き残った者たち—はユディシュティラに答えた。この場面は道義の一瞬を示す。暴力の後でさえ、王の問いは正しい行いと自制に関わる返答を呼び起こすのである。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical reflection: after violence has occurred, the righteous ruler still seeks dialogue and understanding. It hints that dharma involves accountability and listening—even to the vulnerable survivors—before deciding what is right to do next.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira (addressing the creatures in the forest) has spoken to them, and the surviving beasts respond to him. This line functions as a transition into their reply and the moral implications that follow.