Shloka 13
Udyoga Parva 142: Vidura’s warning to Kuntī and Kuntī’s resolve to meet Karṇa
Gaṅgātīra encounter begins
प्रादुर्भूतेषु चैतेषु भयमाहुरुपस्थितम् । निमित्तेषु महाबाहो दारुणं प्राणिनाशनम्,“महाबाहो! कहते हैं, इन निमित्तों (उत्पातसूचक लक्षणों)-के प्रकट होनेपर प्राणियोंके विनाश करनेवाले दारुण भयकी उपस्थिति होती है
prādurbhūteṣu caiteṣu bhayam āhur upasthitam | nimitteṣu mahābāho dāruṇaṁ prāṇināśanam ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi bậc dũng mãnh, khi những điềm ấy hiện ra, người ta bảo rằng một nỗi kinh hoàng ghê gớm sẽ dấy lên—nỗi kinh hoàng đưa đến sự diệt vong của sinh linh. Những điềm báo ấy được hiểu như lời báo trước của tai ương.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional ethical-political warning function of omens: when destructive signs appear, wise rulers should recognize them as signals of impending harm and reconsider actions that lead to mass loss of life.
Sañjaya reports to the king that ominous phenomena have appeared; such portents are commonly interpreted as indicating an approaching catastrophe, foreshadowing the devastation of the coming conflict.