Shloka 4
रावणोत्पत्तिः—तपसा वरलाभश्च
Rāvaṇa’s Origins and the Acquisition of Boons
एवमुक्ता: पाण्डवेन कौन्तेयेन यशस्विना । प्रत्यब्रुवन् मृगास्तत्र हतशेषा युधिष्ठिरम्,यशस्वी पाण्डव कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर मरनेसे बचे हुए हिंसक पशुओंने उनसे कहा--
evam uktāḥ pāṇḍavena kaunteyena yaśasvinā | pratyabruvan mṛgās tatra hataśeṣā yudhiṣṭhiram ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：当般度族中那位声名卓著的昆蒂之子如此发问时，在场的群兽——那些从屠戮中残存下来的——便回答坚战。此景构成一段道义的时刻：纵在暴行之后，国王的追问仍召来关乎正行与克制的回应。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical reflection: after violence has occurred, the righteous ruler still seeks dialogue and understanding. It hints that dharma involves accountability and listening—even to the vulnerable survivors—before deciding what is right to do next.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira (addressing the creatures in the forest) has spoken to them, and the surviving beasts respond to him. This line functions as a transition into their reply and the moral implications that follow.