Shloka 45
Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)
तेषां प्रादुष्कृताग्नीनां मुहुर्ते रम्यदारुणे । ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कार: संजल्प: समजायत,संध्याकालकी नैसर्गिक शोभासे रमणीय तथा राक्षस-पिशाचादिके संचरणका समय होनेसे अत्यन्त भयंकर प्रतीत होनेवाले उस मुहूर्तमें अग्नि प्रजजलित करके वेद-मन्त्रोंके घोषपूर्वक अग्निहोत्र करनेके बाद उन ब्राह्मणोंमें परस्पर संवाद होने लगा
teṣāṁ prāduṣkṛtāgnīnāṁ muhūrte ramya-dāruṇe | brahma-ghoṣa-puraskāraḥ sañjalpaḥ samajāyata ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：在那黄昏时分——自然景致虽美，却也令人心悸，因为人们认为罗刹与毗舍遮常在此刻出没——婆罗门们点燃了圣火。他们以吠陀真言的洪亮诵声为先，完成祭仪之后，彼此间便展开了交谈，言语也被祭场的庄严所笼罩。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic order through ritual: sacred fire and Vedic recitation create a protective, disciplined space even at liminal times (twilight) considered spiritually risky. Ethical emphasis lies on steadiness in prescribed duties and the power of regulated speech (mantra) to orient conduct.
At a twilight moment described as both beautiful and ominous, the brāhmaṇas kindle their fires and perform rites with Vedic chanting. After completing the ritual setting, they begin a formal conversation among themselves.