Shloka 20
कृष्णाभ्यां रक्षितं दृष्टवा तं च दावमहंकृता: । खमुत्पेतुर्महाराज सुपर्णद्या: पतत्त्रिण:
kṛṣṇābhyāṃ rakṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca dāvam ahaṅkṛtāḥ | kham utpetur mahārāja suparṇadyāḥ patattriṇaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Als sie sahen, dass der Waldbrand von Khāṇḍava von Kṛṣṇa und Arjuna bewacht wurde, stiegen die Vögel — stolz auf ihre prächtigen Flügel und ihre Kraft — in den Himmel empor, o König. Die Szene zeigt, wie selbst von Eitelkeit und Instinkt getriebene Geschöpfe vor überwältigendem Schutz und Macht zurückweichen, denen sie nicht trotzen können.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride (ahaṅkāra) collapses before superior protection and power: when Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna guard the scene, even confident creatures withdraw. Ethically, it suggests humility and discernment—knowing when resistance is futile and when to step back from destructive forces.
During the Khāṇḍava episode, the forest-fire is being secured/controlled by Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. Observing this, the birds—described as proud and splendid-winged—take flight into the sky, reacting to the guarded, perilous situation.