Shloka 5
जरितोवाच अहं वेगेन तं यान्तमद्राक्षं पततां वरम् । बिलादाखुं समादाय श्येनं॑ पुत्रा महाबलम्,जरिताने कहा--बच्चो! जब पक्षियोंमें श्रेष्ठ महाबली बाज बिलसे चूहेको लेकर वेगपूर्वक उड़ा जा रहा था, उस समय महान् वेगसे उड़नेवाले उस बाजके पीछे मैं भी बड़ी तीव्र गतिसे गयी और बिलसे चूहेको ले जानेके कारण उसे आशीर्वाद देती हुई बोली --
jaritovāca ahaṁ vegena taṁ yāntam adrākṣaṁ patatāṁ varam | bilād ākhum samādāya śyenaṁ putrā mahābalam ||
Jarita disse: “Vi aquele falcão poderoso—o primeiro entre as criaturas aladas—avançando com grande ímpeto, tendo apanhado um rato de sua toca. Ó filhos, enquanto ele voava velozmente, eu também o segui a alta velocidade; e, por ter levado o rato do buraco, dirigi-lhe palavras de bênção.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral tension common in the Mahābhārata: natural acts (a predator taking prey) are observed within an ethical lens. Jarita’s blessing suggests a recognition of strength and inevitability in nature, while also preparing the listener to reflect on dharma—how one responds to harm, necessity, and power.
Jarita narrates that she saw a powerful hawk flying swiftly after snatching a mouse from its burrow. Addressing her sons, she says she followed the hawk at speed and spoke words of blessing to it for taking the mouse.