Shloka 14
Mahāvasu’s Fall by Speech-Error and Release through Devotion (अज-विवादः वसोः शापः विमोचनं च)
पपात भूमिं राजेन्द्र शुकस्यार्थे महात्मन: । कुरुनन्दन! राजेन्द्र! आकाशसे महात्मा शुकदेवके लिये दण्ड और काला मृगचर्म--ये दोनों वस्तुएँ पृथ्वीपर गिरी ।। १३ $ |। जेगीयन्ते सम गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणा:,हाहा हूृह्श्न गन्धर्वो तुष्ठवुः शुकसम्भवम् | गन्धर्व गाने और अप्सराएँ नृत्य करने लगीं। देवताओंकी दुंदुभियाँ बड़े जोर-जोरसे बज उठीं। विश्वावसु, तुम्बुर, नारद, हाहा और हूहू आदि गन्धर्व शुकदेवजीके जन्मकी बधाई गाने लगे
pāpāta bhūmiṁ rājendra śukasya arthe mahātmanaḥ | kurunandana rājendra ākāśe sa mahātmā śukadevake liye daṇḍaḥ kṛṣṇamṛgacarma ca—ete ubhe vastūnī pṛthivyāṁ papātuḥ ||
(jegīyante sma gandharvā nanṛtuś cāpsarogaṇāḥ | hāhā hūhūś ca gandharvā viśvāvasu-tumburu-nāradaiḥ saha tuṣṭuvuḥ śukasambhavam ||)
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai raja, demi Śuka yang berjiwa agung, dua benda—tongkat pertapa dan kulit kijang hitam—jatuh ke bumi seolah-olah dianugerahkan dari langit. Lalu para Gandharva pun menyanyi dan para Apsaras menari; gendang-gendang surgawi bergema nyaring, dan Gandharva seperti Viśvāvasu, Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, serta Hūhū memuji dan merayakan kedatangan Śuka yang membawa tuah.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that genuine spiritual vocation (tapas and renunciation) is inherently auspicious and is ‘recognized’ by the moral order of the universe. The falling of the staff and antelope-skin symbolizes readiness for disciplined ascetic life, implying that dharma supports those oriented toward self-control and truth.
At Śuka’s advent, ascetic emblems (a staff and black antelope-skin) are said to fall to earth as if granted from the sky. Gandharvas sing, Apsarases dance, celestial drums sound, and renowned Gandharvas (Viśvāvasu, Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū) praise Śuka’s birth.