Shloka 6

Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard

Devanagari script

दिक्ष्वशान्तानि घोराणि व्याहरन्ति मृगद्धिजा: । नीचैर्गुध्रा निलीयन्ते भारतानां चमूं प्रति,“सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें पशु और पक्षी अशान्तिपूर्ण भयंकर बोली बोल रहे हैं। गीध नीचे आकर कौरव-सेनामें छिप रहे हैं

Transliteration

dikṣv aśāntāni ghorāṇi vyāharanti mṛgadvijāḥ | nīcair gṛdhrā nilīyante bhāratānāṃ camūṃ prati ||

Translation

అన్ని దిక్కులలో మృగాలు, పక్షులు అశాంతిగా భయంకరంగా అరుస్తున్నాయి। గద్దలు తక్కువగా ఎగిరి వచ్చి భారతుల (కౌరవుల) సేన వైపు దాగి కూర్చుంటున్నాయి।

Word by Word

दिक्षुin the directions

अशान्तानिunpeaceful, ominous

घोराणिterrible, dreadful

व्याहरन्तिutter, cry out

मृगाःbeasts, deer (animals)

द्विजाःbirds

नीचैःlow, downwards

गृध्राःvultures

निलीयन्तेhide themselves, settle down (conceal themselves)

भारताणाम्of the Bharatas (Kauravas/Pandavas; here: Kauravas as per context)

चमूम्army

प्रतिtowards, against

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhāratas (Kauravas)

camū (army)

mṛga (beasts)

dvija (birds)

gṛdhra (vultures)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how nature mirrors moral disorder: inauspicious cries and vultures signal impending destruction, reminding that war—especially when driven by adharma—invites suffering and grim consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the ominous portents around the battlefield: animals and birds cry fearfully in all directions, and vultures gather low near the Bhārata (Kaurava) host, foreshadowing heavy casualties.