Shloka 32
Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise
स योजनशतोत्सेध: पादोनविटपायत: । पर्यक्कृताचलच्छायो निर्नीडस्तापवर्जित: ॥ ३२ ॥
sa yojana-śatotsedhaḥ pādona-viṭapāyataḥ paryak-kṛtācala-cchāyo nirnīḍas tāpa-varjitaḥ
That banyan tree rose eight hundred yojanas high, with branches spreading six hundred yojanas; it cast a steady, mountain-like cooling shade, yet there were no birds’ nests and no sound of birds at all.
Generally, in every tree there are bird nests, and the birds congregate in the evening and create noise. But it appears that this banyan tree was devoid of nests, and therefore it was calm, quiet and peaceful. There were no disturbances from noise or heat, and therefore this place was just suitable for meditation.
FAQs
This verse describes a gigantic, mystical tree—hundreds of yojanas tall—with wide-spreading branches and a cool, steady, mountain-like shade, free from nests and free from heat or distress.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this while narrating the events surrounding Dakṣa’s sacrifice (yajña) and the extraordinary features seen in that setting after the upheaval of the sacrificial arena.
The verse highlights a refuge that is cool, steady, and free from disturbance—encouraging seekers to cultivate a stable, shelter-giving spiritual life (through bhakti, humility, and avoiding offenses) rather than seeking comfort in unstable material arrangements.