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 ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：具足苦行之力的诸位牟尼，被最深沉的悲痛所攫住。于是，噢，婆罗多啊，他们在夜里化作群鸟聚集于彼处；各随其力显现真形与神通，向那位最上之“再生者”——（可敬的圣仙摩ṇḍavya）——发问，欲明白所见苦难的道德因缘，以及在此境遇中达摩所要求的抉择。
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.