Shloka 10
बक-राक्षसस्य आह्वानम् तथा वृक्षयुद्धम्
Summons of Baka and the Tree-Weapon Engagement
शीर्णपर्णफलै राजन् बहुगुल्मक्षुपैर्ट्रमै: । भग्नावभग्नभूयिष्ठैर्ननाद्रुमसमाकुलै:,राजन! (हवाके झोंकोंसे) वनके बहुसंख्यक छोटे-बड़े वृक्ष और गुल्म-लता आदि झुक- झुककर टूट गये थे। उनके पत्ते और फल इधर-उधर बिखर गये थे और उनपर पक्षी शब्द कर रहे थे। इन सबके कारण सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें अँधेरा छा रहा था
śīrṇa-parṇa-phalai rājan bahu-gulma-kṣupaiḥ drumaiḥ | bhagnāvabhagna-bhūyiṣṭhair nanādruma-samākulaiḥ, rājan ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó rei, a floresta estava coalhada de folhas e frutos caídos. Muitas árvores—junto com moitas, arbustos e trepadeiras—foram vergadas e partidas pela força das rajadas. Com troncos quebrados e semiquebrados por toda parte, o bosque tornou-se uma massa confusa de árvores estilhaçadas; e, em meio a esse tumulto, os clamores das aves ressoavam, como se a escuridão se espalhasse por todas as direções.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses violent disturbance in nature—broken trees, scattered leaves and fruits, and ominous sounds—to signal moral and narrative tension. In the Mahābhārata, such descriptions often function as portents: when dharma is threatened or a grave event approaches, the natural world appears unsettled, urging attentiveness and restraint.
Vaiśampāyana describes a forest scene battered by strong gusts: shrubs and trees are bent and broken, leaves and fruits are strewn about, and bird-cries echo. The overall effect is of darkness and foreboding spreading in every direction.