Shloka 20
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय २: संजयस्य दिव्यदृष्टिप्रदानम् तथा निमित्तवर्णनम्
Granting Sañjaya Divine Sight and the Description of Omens
उभे पूर्वापरे संध्ये नित्यं पश्यामि भारत । उदयास्तमने सूर्य कबन्धै: परिवारितम्,'भारत! मैं प्रातः और सायं दोनों संध्याओंके समय उदय और अस्तकी वेलामें सूर्यदेवको प्रतिदिन कबन्धोंसे घिरा हुआ देखता हूँ
ubhe pūrvāpare sandhye nityaṁ paśyāmi bhārata | udayāstamane sūryaṁ kabandhaiḥ parivāritam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, pada kedua-dua pertemuan hari—pagi dan petang—aku sentiasa melihat Dewa Surya pada saat terbit dan terbenam, dikepung oleh batang tubuh tanpa kepala (kabandha).” Penglihatan itu dikemukakan sebagai alamat buruk, menandakan tertib alam terganggu serta meramalkan pembunuhan besar-besaran dan goncangan moral yang dibawa perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how adharma and impending violence manifest as disturbances in the natural and moral order. The ‘Sun surrounded by kabandhas’ functions as a warning: when society moves toward unjust slaughter, even the symbols of light and order appear eclipsed by death.
In Bhīṣma Parva’s opening, Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya a series of terrifying portents seen around the time of the Kurukṣetra war. Here he reports a recurring vision at dawn and dusk: the Sun at rising and setting appears encircled by kabandhas, foreshadowing widespread carnage.