Shloka 21
प्रजाभि: सह संगम्य हानुशोचन्ति नित्यश: । अन्निहोत्राणि सायाह्ले न चाहूयन्त सर्वश:
prajābhiḥ saha saṅgamya hānuśocanti nityaśaḥ | agnihotrāṇi sāyāhle na cāhūyante sarvaśaḥ ||
ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—“ପ୍ରଜାମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଏକତ୍ର ହୋଇ ସେମାନେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଶୋକ କରୁଛନ୍ତି। ଏବଂ ସାୟଂକାଳେ ସର୍ବତ୍ର ଅଗ୍ନିହୋତ୍ର କ୍ରିୟାର ଯଥାବିଧି ଆହ୍ୱାନ ଓ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ହେଉନାହିଁ।”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
When society is shaken by fear and wrongdoing, both public morale and sacred duties decline; the neglect of daily rites like Agnihotra signals a breakdown of dharma and the king’s responsibility to uphold order.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reports signs of distress in the realm: people assemble and mourn continually, and even the regular evening Agnihotra rituals are not being properly invoked or carried out, indicating widespread disruption.