Shloka 8
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
पृथग्जनस्य सर्वस्य क्षुद्रका: प्रहसन्ति च । नृत्यन्ति परिगायन्ति वेदयन्तो महद् भयम्
pṛthagjanasya sarvasya kṣudrakāḥ prahasanti ca | nṛtyanti parigāyanti vedayanto mahad bhayam ||
पृथग्जनस्य सर्वस्य क्षुद्रकाः प्रहसन्ति च। नृत्यन्ति परिगायन्ति वेदयन्तो महद् भयम्॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma and impending mass violence are preceded by unsettling social and psychological disturbances. When the moral order weakens, even ordinary public behavior can appear distorted, functioning as a warning that fear and chaos are approaching.
Vyāsa describes ominous portents seen among the populace: people of low status and even deformed children are depicted as laughing, singing, and dancing in a way that signals a great fear. This is part of the broader catalogue of signs foretelling the calamity of the Kurukṣetra war.