Shloka 23
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
तत्र चागत्य चाण्डालो हारण्ये कृतकेतन: । प्रयोजयति चोन्माथं नित्यमस्तंगते रवौ
tatra cāgatya cāṇḍālo hāraṇye kṛtaketanaḥ | prayojayati conmāthaṃ nityam astaṃgate ravau ||
तेथे एक चांडालही येऊन त्या अरण्यात आपले निवासस्थान करून राहू लागला. तो रोज सूर्यास्त झाल्यावर तेथे येऊन सापळा पसरवी, त्याच्या दोऱ्या योग्य ठिकाणी बांधून मग घरी परत जाई व निर्धास्त झोपी; सकाळ होताच पुन्हा तेथे येई.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical scenario: a person living on the margins follows a fixed routine of laying traps at sunset and returning at dawn. In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, such details typically prepare reflection on how habitual actions, means of livelihood, and intention can carry moral weight and consequences.
A Caṇḍāla residing in a forest goes each evening after sunset to a particular place, sets a snare by arranging its cords properly, returns home to sleep, and comes back in the morning—describing a regular trapping routine.