Shloka 45
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
ततोऽग्निमारुतौ राजन्नमुञ्चन्मुखतो रुषा । महीं निर्वीरुधं कर्तुं संवर्तक इवात्यये ॥ ४५ ॥
tato ’gni-mārutau rājann amuñcan mukhato ruṣā mahīṁ nirvīrudhaṁ kartuṁ saṁvartaka ivātyaye
O King, just as at the time of devastation Rudra, in anger, emits fire and wind from his mouth, so the Pracetās too, enraged, released fire and air from their mouths to make the earth entirely without trees and vegetation.
In this verse Vidura is addressed as rājan, which means “O King.” In this regard, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura comments that a dhīra never becomes angry because he is always situated in devotional service. Advanced devotees can control their senses; therefore a devotee can be addressed as rājan. A king controls and rules in various ways among citizens; similarly, one who can control his senses is the king of his senses. He is a svāmī or gosvāmī. The svāmīs and gosvāmīs are therefore sometimes addressed as mahārāja, or king.
FAQs
Out of anger, the Pracetās emitted fire and wind from their mouths to destroy the overgrown vegetation covering the earth, acting with a force compared to the saṁvartaka fire of cosmic dissolution.
Saṁvartaka refers to the devastating fire associated with pralaya (cosmic dissolution); this verse uses it as a comparison to show how intensely destructive the Pracetās’ anger-driven action was.
Unchecked anger can become destructive like a force of devastation; the verse encourages cultivating restraint and acting in harmony with dharma rather than reacting in rage.