Shloka 22
आसीज्निष्ठानको घोरो निर्घातश्न महानभूत्
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | āsīn niṣṭhānako ghoro nirghātaś ca mahān abhūt | pralayakālīna-meghānāṃ bhīṣaṇa-garjanā-samo mahāśabdo 'bhavat | balavān vāyur avāt | vajrapāta-samo 'tyanta-karkaśaḥ śabdo 'bhavat | ākāśād ulkāḥ papātuḥ | rāhuś ca aparvaṇi sūryaṃ jagrāha, prajābhyo 'tyantaṃ ghoraṃ bhayam utpādayām āsa ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Timbul suatu gemuruh yang mengerikan—bagaikan deru awan pada saat pralaya. Angin ribut bertiup kencang, dan bunyi kasar seperti hentaman halilintar bergema. Meteor jatuh dari langit, dan Rāhu, tanpa waktunya, menelan matahari, menimbulkan ketakutan yang amat dahsyat pada rakyat. Tanda-tanda sial ini menyatakan kekacauan moral yang sedang masak menjadi bencana, seolah-olah alam sendiri memprotes kehancuran yang mendatang.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
When rulers and assemblies drift from dharma, the narrative frames the world itself as reflecting that imbalance through portents—fear, disorder, and ominous signs. The ethical point is that adharma is not merely private wrongdoing; it destabilizes society and invites collective suffering.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reports terrifying omens: a catastrophic roar like pralaya-clouds, violent winds, thunderbolt-like sounds, meteors falling, and an untimely eclipse as Rāhu seizes the sun. These signs heighten the sense that a grave crisis is unfolding and that disastrous consequences are near.