Shloka 5
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
सलोहिता दिशश्वासन् खरवाचो मृगद्धिजा: । तमोवृतमभूत् सर्व न प्राज्ञायत किंचन,सम्पूर्ण दिशाएँ लाल हो गयी, मृग और पक्षी कठोर शब्द करने लगे, सारा जगत् अन्धकारसे आच्छन्न हो गया और किसीको कुछ भी सूझ नहीं पड़ता था
salohitā diśaśvāsan kharavāco mṛgadvijāḥ | tamovṛtam abhūt sarvaṁ na prājñāyata kiñcana ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Penjuru-penjuru seakan memerah, sementara binatang dan burung mengeluarkan pekikan yang keras dan membawa alamat buruk. Kegelapan menyelubungi segalanya, sehingga tiada apa pun dapat dilihat dengan jelas. Adegan ini menandakan gangguan pada tatanan dunia menurut dharma—manifestasi lahiriah bagi kekacauan batin—memberi amaran bahawa apabila adharma bangkit, alam sendiri seolah-olah mengundur, dan daya pertimbangan manusia pun menjadi kabur.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys that moral and cosmic order are intertwined: when grave wrongdoing or impending calamity approaches, the world is portrayed as giving signs—nature turns ominous and human clarity (discernment) collapses. It cautions readers to heed ethical imbalance and its consequences.
A sudden, ominous atmosphere arises: the horizons appear blood-red, animals and birds utter harsh cries, and darkness envelops everything so that nothing can be clearly seen. This functions as a narrative omen indicating an approaching crisis.