Shloka 24
Bhīṣma’s Retrospective of the Jāmadagnya Rāma Encounter
Divyāstra-Pratiyuddha and Twilight Cessation
दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुर्दारुणं मुहुरुन्नदत् । अनाहता दुन्दुभयो विनेदुर्भशनि:स्वना:,दिशाओंमें दाह-सा होने लगा, गीदड़ बार-बार भयंकर बोली बोलने लगा, दुन्दुभियाँ बिना बजाये ही जोर-जोरसे बजने लगीं
dīptāyāṃ diśi gomāyur dāruṇaṃ muhur unnadata | anāhatā dundubhayo vinedur bhaśaniḥ-svanāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Di satu arah, langit tampak menyala seakan-akan terbakar. Berkali-kali serigala hutan melolong dengan bunyi yang mengerikan; dan gendang perang, meski tidak dipalu oleh sesiapa, berdentum kuat bagaikan hempasan guruh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma is disturbed and a great conflict is about to unfold, nature itself is portrayed as reflecting that imbalance through ominous signs; the passage warns that adharma brings collective suffering and unavoidable consequences.
Bhīṣma reports inauspicious portents—an eerie blaze in a direction, repeated jackal howls, and drums sounding without being struck—foreshadowing the imminent calamity of the Kurukṣetra war.