Shloka 22
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य गेहे गोमायुरुच्चैव्याहरदग्निहोत्रे । त॑ रासभा: प्रत्यभाषन्त राजन् समन्तत: पक्षिणश्नैव रौद्रा:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya gehe gomāyur uccair vyāharad agnihotre | taṁ rāsabhāḥ pratyabhāṣanta rājan samantataḥ pakṣiṇaś caiva raudrāḥ |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan nito, O Haring Janamejaya, sa bahay ni Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra—sa mismong pook ng banal na apoy—may isang asong-gubat (jackal) na pumasok at umalulong nang malakas. Sa pagtingin sa tunog na iyon bilang tanda, nagsimulang umangil ang mga asno sa lahat ng panig, at ang mababangis na ibon, gaya ng mga buwitre, ay nag-ingay rin ng masamang pangitain sa paligid.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that when sacred order (especially the ritual fire-space) is disturbed by inauspicious sounds, it is read as a warning of ethical and political imbalance. It reflects the epic’s idea that adharma in governance and family conduct manifests outwardly as ominous portents.
Vaiśampāyana reports to King Janamejaya that a jackal cried loudly inside Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s agnihotra area; in response, donkeys brayed and fierce birds cried out all around—an ominous chorus interpreted as a bad omen for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s house and the kingdom.