Shloka 14
मधुकैटभवधोपाख्यानम्
The Account of the Slaying of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
तत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं मृगद्धिजनिषेवितम् । तत्राश्रमपदे रम्ये बक॑ पश्यति देवराट्
tatrāśramapadaṃ ramyaṃ mṛgadvijanisevitam | tatrāśramapade ramye bakaṃ paśyati devarāṭ |
അവിടെ അദ്ദേഹം മൃഗങ്ങളും പവിത്ര ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരും സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു രമ്യമായ ആശ്രമസ്ഥലം കണ്ടു. ആ മനോഹര ആശ്രമഭൂമിയിൽ ദേവരാജൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) ഒരു ബകനെ (കൊക്ക്) കണ്ടു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic Mahābhārata ethical contrast: a serene, dharmic setting (hermitage, brahmins, harmless deer) can still conceal threat. It prepares the reader to judge beings by conduct rather than appearance and to remain vigilant in protecting dharma even in seemingly peaceful places.
Vaiśampāyana describes a beautiful hermitage frequented by deer and brahmins. In that very place, Devarāṭ (Indra) notices a crane, a narrative cue that something significant—often involving deception or a test of righteousness—is about to unfold.