Shloka 11
तथा तु निध्नतस्तस्य पिशाचोरगराक्षसान्,कृष्णमशभ्युद्यतास्त्रं च नादं मुमुचुरुल्बणम् | उन्होंने उस जलते हुए वनको और मारनेके लिये अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्ण तथा अर्जुनको देखा। उत्पात और आर्तनादके शब्दसे उस वनमें खड़े हुए वे सभी प्राणी संत्रस्त- से हो उठे थे। उस वनको अनेक प्रकारसे दग्ध होते देख और अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्णपर दृष्टि डाल भयानक आर्तनाद करने लगे
tathā tu nighnataḥ tasya piśācoragarākṣasān, kṛṣṇam abhyudyatāstraṃ ca nādaṃ mumucur ulbaṇam |
Vaiśampāyana said: As he was striking down those piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas, they beheld Kṛṣṇa with weapon raised, and they let out a dreadful, tumultuous cry. Seeing the forest burning in many ways and fixing their gaze upon Kṛṣṇa with his weapon uplifted, the terrified beings raised a fearsome wail—an ominous outcry born of panic at the righteous force confronting their violence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When destructive forces (symbolized by piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas) confront disciplined, purposeful resistance, their response is often panic and ominous clamor. The verse frames righteous force as restoring order: fear arises not from dharma itself, but from the collapse of violent beings’ impunity.
As the hostile beings in the burning forest are being struck down, they see Kṛṣṇa (and, in the episode’s context, Arjuna) with weapons raised. Terrified by the conflagration and the armed heroes, they cry out with a dreadful roar/keening, signaling chaos and distress in the forest.