Shloka 100
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
सर्वे विकृतदेहाश्चाप्यस्मिन् देशे सुदारुणे । युष्मान् प्रधर्षयिष्यन्ति विकृता मांसभोजिन:,इस भयंकर प्रदेशमें रहनेवाले सभी प्राणी विकराल शरीरके हैं। ये सबके सब मांस खानेवाले और विकृत अंगवाले हैं। वे तुमलोगोंको धर दबायेंगे
sarve vikṛtadehāś cāpy asmin deśe sudāruṇe | yuṣmān pradharṣayiṣyanti vikṛtā māṁsabhōjinaḥ ||
Disse o abutre: “Nesta região terrível, todos os seres têm corpos grotescos. São comedores de carne, de membros distorcidos, e hão de dominar-vos e agarrar-vos.”
गृध्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores prudence and discernment: entering a place dominated by हिंसा (violence) and predatory beings invites harm. Ethically, it suggests that environments shaped by adharma endanger the weak and demand caution, restraint, and wise counsel.
A vulture speaks as a warning voice, describing the terrifying nature of the region: its inhabitants are grotesque, flesh-eating creatures who will attack and overpower the addressed group. The line functions as an urgent caution against proceeding unprepared.