Shloka 25
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
मुष्णन् दृष्टी: क्षत्रियाणां मध्याह्न इव भास्कर: | ततकश्नक्षुविहीनास्ते गिरिदुर्गेषु बच्रमु:,बाहर निकलते ही दोपहरके प्रचण्ड सूर्यकी भाँति उस तेजस्वी शिशुने (अपने तेजसे) उन क्षत्रियोंकी आँखोंकी ज्योति छीन ली। तब वे अंधे होकर उस पर्वतके बीहड़ स्थानोंमें भटकने लगे
muṣṇan dṛṣṭīḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ madhyāhna iva bhāskaraḥ | tatakṣaṇakṣuvihīnāste giridurgeṣu vicakramuḥ ||
وكالشمس المتأجّجة في كبد السماء، ما إن ظهر الطفل المتلألئ حتى سلب الكشاتريين أبصارهم بقوة إشراقه. فعمُوا في الحال، وأخذوا يهيمون على وجوههم في شعاب الجبال الوعرة وحصونها.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that brute force and social power (kṣatra) are checked by higher spiritual potency (tapas/tejas). When actions are driven by arrogance or adharma, the result is immediate loss of discernment—symbolized by blindness—and consequent ruin.
Vasiṣṭha describes a moment when a supremely radiant child appears; his tejas is compared to the midday sun. That radiance overwhelms the kṣatriyas, depriving them of sight, after which they stumble and wander through mountain strongholds and rugged terrain.