Shloka 12
खाण्डवदाहोत्तर-वरप्रदानम्
Boons after the Khāṇḍava Burning
ते शराचितसर्वाड्रा निनदन्तो महारवान् | ऊर्ध्वमुत्पत्य वेगेन निपेतु: खाण्डवे पुन:,पहले तो पक्षी बड़े वेगसे ऊपरको उड़ते, परंतु बाणोंसे सारा अंग छिद जानेपर जोर- जोरसे आर्तनाद करते हुए पुनः खाण्डववनमें ही गिर पड़ते थे
te śarācita-sarvāṅgā ninadanto mahāravān | ūrdhvam utpatya vegena nipetuḥ khāṇḍave punaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Những con chim ấy, thân mình bị tên cắm chi chít, kêu thét những tiếng ghê rợn vang dội. Dẫu chúng vút lên cao với tốc độ lớn, chúng vẫn rơi trở lại vào rừng Khāṇḍava.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the inescapability of consequences once violence and destruction are unleashed: even beings that try to escape are brought down by the force of events, highlighting the pervasive suffering that accompanies large-scale conflict.
During the Khāṇḍava episode, birds attempt to fly upward to flee, but their bodies are pierced by arrows; crying loudly in pain, they fall back into the forest again.