Shloka 8
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest
नानागुल्मलताच्छन्न॑ नानाद्रुमसमावृतम् | अरण्यं घोरसंनादं शापग्रस्त: परिभ्रमन्
nānā-gulma-latācchannaṁ nānā-druma-samāvṛtam | araṇyaṁ ghora-saṁnādaṁ śāpa-grastaḥ paribhraman ||
Hutan itu ditutupi pelbagai semak dan menjalar, dilingkungi aneka pohon, serta bergema dengan bunyi-bunyi yang menggerunkan. Di sanalah Kalmāṣapāda, raja yang ditimpa sumpahan, mengembara tanpa tujuan.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
A curse symbolizes the moral and karmic consequences of wrongdoing: when dharma is violated, even a king can lose stability and protection, becoming driven into fear and disorder. The wilderness imagery reflects inner and outer disintegration caused by adharma.
A Gandharva describes a terrifying, densely overgrown forest echoing with dreadful sounds, where the cursed king Kalmāṣapāda roams aimlessly, indicating his fall from royal order into a perilous, uncontrolled state.