Shloka 23
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
तत्र चागत्य चाण्डालो हारण्ये कृतकेतन: । प्रयोजयति चोन्माथं नित्यमस्तंगते रवौ
tatra cāgatya cāṇḍālo hāraṇye kṛtaketanaḥ | prayojayati conmāthaṃ nityam astaṃgate ravau ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Doon ay dumating ang isang Caṇḍāla at nagtayo ng kanyang tirahan sa gubat na iyon. Araw-araw, pagkalubog ng araw, pumupunta siya roon upang maglatag ng silo, itinatakda ang mga tali sa nararapat na lugar; saka uuwi at matutulog nang payapa. Pagsapit ng umaga, bumabalik siyang muli roon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical scenario: a person living on the margins follows a fixed routine of laying traps at sunset and returning at dawn. In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, such details typically prepare reflection on how habitual actions, means of livelihood, and intention can carry moral weight and consequences.
A Caṇḍāla residing in a forest goes each evening after sunset to a particular place, sets a snare by arranging its cords properly, returns home to sleep, and comes back in the morning—describing a regular trapping routine.