Shloka 51
हाहाकृतमभूत् सर्वमैरावतनिवेशनम् । वासुकिप्रमुखानां च नागानां जनमेजय,जनमेजय! ऐरावतके सारे घरमें हाहाकार मच गया। भारत! वासुकि आदि नागोंके घर धूमसे आच्छादित हो गये। उनमें अँधेरा छा गया। वे ऐसे जान पड़ते थे, मानो कुहासासे ढके हुए वन और पर्वत हों
hāhākṛtam abhūt sarvam airāvata-niveśanam | vāsuki-pramukhānāṁ ca nāgānāṁ janamejaya ||
The entire dwelling of Airāvata was thrown into a tumult of cries. And, O Janamejaya, the abodes of the Nāgas headed by Vāsuki were covered with thick smoke; darkness spread over them, so that they looked like forests and mountains veiled in mist.
अश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how destructive forces—whether ritual, conflict, or unleashed power—create collective suffering that spreads beyond a single target. It implicitly cautions rulers and agents of action to consider wider consequences and to restrain violence that disrupts social and cosmic order.
The speaker (the horse) describes a sudden outbreak of panic: Airāvata’s residence is filled with cries, and the Nāga dwellings led by Vāsuki are engulfed in smoke and darkness, appearing like mist-covered forests and mountains.