Shloka 68
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
कल्याणवाच: शकुना राजहंसा: शुका: क्रौज्चा: शतपत्राश्न यत्र । प्रदक्षिणाश्रैव भवन्ति संख्ये ध्रुवं जयस्तत्र वदन्ति विप्रा:
kalyāṇavācaḥ śakunā rājahaṃsāḥ śukāḥ krauñcāḥ śatapatrāś ca yatra | pradakṣiṇāś caiva bhavanti saṃkhye dhruvaṃ jayas tatra vadanti viprāḥ ||
व्यास उवाच— यत्र शकुनाः कल्याणवाचो राजहंसाः शुकाः क्रौञ्चाः शतपत्राश्च, संख्ये चमूं प्रदक्षिणं कुर्वन्ति— तत्र ध्रुवं जय इति विप्राः प्राहुः।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that traditional dharma-based culture reads the battlefield through auspicious signs: rightward circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) by certain birds is taken as an indication that victory aligns with favorable cosmic and ritual order, as affirmed by learned Brahmins.
Vyāsa reports an omen-interpretation: if specific auspicious birds circle an army to the right during battle, Brahmin authorities consider that side destined to win. It functions as a prognostic sign within the war narrative.