Shloka 14
तत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं मृगद्धिजनिषेवितम् । तत्राश्रमपदे रम्ये बक॑ पश्यति देवराट्
tatrāśramapadaṃ ramyaṃ mṛgadvijanisevitam | tatrāśramapade ramye bakaṃ paśyati devarāṭ |
Ali ele chegou a um aprazível sítio de eremitério, frequentado por veados e por brâmanes santos. Naquele encantador chão de āśrama, Devarāṭ avistou uma garça—um detalhe ominoso que prepara a cena para um encontro moral, em que a calma exterior contrasta com o perigo oculto.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic Mahābhārata ethical contrast: a serene, dharmic setting (hermitage, brahmins, harmless deer) can still conceal threat. It prepares the reader to judge beings by conduct rather than appearance and to remain vigilant in protecting dharma even in seemingly peaceful places.
Vaiśampāyana describes a beautiful hermitage frequented by deer and brahmins. In that very place, Devarāṭ (Indra) notices a crane, a narrative cue that something significant—often involving deception or a test of righteousness—is about to unfold.