Shloka 19
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय २: संजयस्य दिव्यदृष्टिप्रदानम् तथा निमित्तवर्णनम्
Granting Sañjaya Divine Sight and the Description of Omens
निर्दयं चाभिवाशन्तो भैरवा भयवेदिन: । कड्का: प्रयान्ति मध्येन दक्षिणामभितो दिशम्
nirdayaṃ cābhivāśanto bhairavā bhayavedinaḥ | kaṅkāḥ prayānti madhyena dakṣiṇām abhito diśam ||
毗舍婆耶那说道：“那可怖的羯迦鸟发出刺耳的啼叫——它们是预示恐惧的凶兆——穿过军阵中央，向南方飞去。”在史诗的征兆语言中，食腐之鸟逼近战场，象征屠戮将至，嗜肉之兽禽将啄食倒下者的尸身，连战马与战象亦不能免。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses omen imagery to underline the moral gravity of war: violence draws death and scavengers, and nature itself appears to warn of the consequences. It frames the coming battle as a dharmic crisis where choices lead to inevitable suffering.
As the armies prepare, ominous birds (kaṅkas) cry harshly and fly through the ranks toward the south, a direction traditionally associated with Yama and death. Their behavior is presented as a sign of imminent carnage on the battlefield.