Shloka 3
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
त्रिविषाणाश्षतुर्नेत्रा: पज्चपादा द्विमेहना: । द्विशीर्षाश्न द्विपुच्छाश्च दंष्टिग: पशवोडशिवा:,इति श्रीमहाभारते भीष्मपर्वणि जम्बूखण्डविनिर्माणपर्वणि निमित्ताख्याने तृतीयो<5ध्याय:
triviṣāṇāś caturnetrāḥ pañcapādā dvimehanāḥ | dviśīrṣāś ca dvipucchāś ca daṃṣṭrigaḥ paśavo 'śivāḥ ||
व्यास उवाच—त्रिविषाणाश्चतुर्नेत्राः पञ्चपादाः द्विमेहनाः। द्विशीर्षाश्च द्विपुच्छाश्च दंष्ट्रिणश्च पशवोऽशिवाः॥ एते विकृतदेहाः प्राणिनोऽमङ्गलनिमित्तं, लोकस्य व्यत्ययं सूचयन्ति।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that violations of natural order are read as nimittas (portents): when the world shows abnormality, it urges rulers and people to examine their conduct, restore dharma, and avert harm through right action rather than complacency.
Vyāsa is listing ominous, abnormal creatures—animals with extra horns, eyes, feet, heads, tails, or fangs—as signs of inauspiciousness, part of a broader account of portents (nimittas) associated with disorder in the world.