Shloka 16
शतक्रतुं समाभाष्य महागम्भीरनि:स्वना । देवताओंके लौट जानेपर इन्द्रको सम्बोधित करके बड़े गम्भीर स्वरसे आकाशवाणी हुई - [१५३ || न ते सखा संनिहितस्तक्षको भुजगोत्तम:,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
śatakratuṁ samābhāṣya mahāgambhīraniḥsvanā | na te sakhā saṁnihitas takṣako bhujagottamaḥ, kṛṣṇam abhyudyatāstraṁ ca nādaṁ mumucur ulbaṇam |
Vaiśampāyana said: After addressing Śatakratu (Indra), a celestial voice, deep and grave in tone, was heard. It declared that Takṣaka—the foremost of serpents—was not present there as an ally. Seeing the forest ablaze, and seeing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna with weapons raised to strike, the creatures standing within that woodland were seized by terror; beholding the many ways in which the forest was being consumed, they let out dreadful cries.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the moral gravity of wielding force: even when great heroes act with divine-scale power, the immediate consequence is terror and suffering among vulnerable beings. It also shows how divine speech (ākāśavāṇī) frames events, clarifying hidden factors (e.g., Takṣaka’s absence) and reminding the listener that outcomes are shaped by more than visible human action.
A deep celestial proclamation is heard after addressing Indra. It states that Takṣaka, the great serpent, is not present there as an ally. Meanwhile, the forest is seen burning, and Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna stand with weapons raised; the creatures in the forest, overwhelmed by ominous sounds and distress, cry out in fear as the conflagration spreads.