Shloka 10
कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
वश्षित् क्षुद्रसमाचार: पृथिव्यां कालसम्मित: । विचचार महारण्ये घोर: शकुनिलुब्धक:
vaśṣit kṣudra-samācāraḥ pṛthivyāṃ kāla-sammitaḥ | vicacāra mahāraṇye ghoraḥ śakuni-lubdhakaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Certa vez houve um terrível caçador de aves que vagava por uma vasta floresta. Sua conduta era vil e mesquinha; na terra, parecia a própria Morte, movendo-se por toda parte em busca de presa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical contrast: a person of ignoble conduct who harms living beings is portrayed as ‘like Death’ in the world. It introduces a cautionary exemplum about adharma—cruelty and base habits leading to fear and moral downfall.
Bhishma begins a story by describing a terrifying bird-hunter roaming a great forest. The hunter’s character is emphasized as corrupt and destructive, foreshadowing consequences and moral instruction to follow.