Shloka 16
गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession
संतापं परमं जग्मुर्मुन॒यस्तपसान्विता: । ते रात्रौ शकुना भूत्वा संनिपत्य तु भारत । दर्शयन्तो यथाशक्ति तमपृच्छन् द्विजोत्तमम्
santāpaṁ paramaṁ jagmur munayas tapasānvitāḥ | te rātrau śakunā bhūtvā saṁnipatya tu bhārata | darśayanto yathāśakti tam apṛcchan dvijottamam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Ang mga muning asceta, na puspos ng tapa, ay sinakmal ng pinakamalalim na pighati. Pagkaraan, O Bhārata, sa gabi’y nagtipon sila roon matapos mag-anyong mga ibon. Ipinakilala ang sarili ayon sa kanilang lakas, tinanong nila ang pinakamahusay sa mga “dalawang ulit na isinilang”—(ang kagalang-galang na risheng si Māṇḍavya)—upang maunawaan ang moral na sanhi ng nasaksihang pagdurusa at ang hinihingi ng dharma sa gayong kalagayan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how powerful ascetics respond to perceived moral disorder: intense inner distress leads them to seek clarification from a realized authority. It frames dharma as something to be investigated through disciplined inquiry, especially when suffering appears disproportionate to apparent fault.
A group of austerity-filled sages, shaken by what they have seen, assemble at night by assuming bird-forms. They reveal themselves as much as their powers allow and question the eminent twice-born sage (contextually Māṇḍavya), initiating a dialogue about the cause and meaning of the situation.