Shloka 3
कर्मेज्या मानवानां च दानवैहैंहयर्षभ । भ्रष्टैश्चर्यास्ततो देवाश्चेरु: पृथ्वीमिति श्रुति:
karmejyā mānavānāṃ ca dānavair haihayarṣabha | bhraṣṭaiś caryās tato devāś ceruḥ pṛthvīm iti śrutiḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai banteng di antara kaum Haihaya, menurut tradisi yang didengar, kaum Dānava telah melenyapkan amalan-amalan perbuatan dan korban suci di kalangan manusia. Terlucut daripada tata upacara yang wajar dan jatuh daripada kemakmuran ketuhanan, para dewa pun mengembara di bumi dalam kesengsaraan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When prescribed rites and ethical-religious observances collapse, even the gods are portrayed as losing stability and prosperity; the verse underscores that dharma (sustained through right conduct and ritual order) is a pillar of cosmic and social well-being.
Bhishma recounts a traditional report: the Danavas overpower the gods and disrupt the world’s ritual life, leading to the gods’ loss of splendor and their wandering upon the earth in hardship.