Shloka 1.74.16
परशुरामप्रादुर्भावः — The Appearance of Parasurama on the Return from Mithila
वसिष्ठश्चर्षयश्चान्ये राजा च ससुतस्तदा ।।।।संसज्ञा इव तत्रासन् सर्वमन्यद्विचेतनम्।
tamasā saṃvṛtaḥ sūryaḥ sarvā na prababhuḥ diśaḥ | bhasmanā cāvṛtaṃ sarvaṃ saṃmūḍham iva tad balam ||
The sun was veiled by darkness, and the directions no longer shone. Covered in ash, the whole army seemed stunned and bewildered.
At that time Vasishta and other saints, the king and his sons held their senses under control. All others lost their consciousness.
Inner clarity against outer darkness: dharma calls for steadiness and discernment even when fear and confusion spread through the crowd.
The environment turns unnatural—darkness, loss of direction, ash—signaling an extraordinary presence about to appear.
The contrast prepares for leadership under crisis: those with training (king, sages) must not succumb to collective panic.