Shloka 5.1.124
समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः — Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing
ततस्तेषु प्रयातेषु देवसङ्घा: महर्षिभिः।भूतानि च भयं जग्मुस्तेषां पतनशङ्कया।।।
tatas teṣu prayāteṣu deva-saṅghā maharṣibhiḥ | bhūtāni ca bhayaṃ jagmus teṣāṃ patana-śaṅkayā ||
Then, as they ranged about, hosts of the devas along with the great rishis—and other beings too—were seized by fear, suspecting that the mountains might fall and bring ruin.
"When they moved about, even hosts of sages, gods and creatures panicked for fear of falling down (and destroying all worlds).
Protection of beings: dharma includes preventing foreseeable harm to the many, even when the cause is natural or powerful.
Maināka describes how the roaming winged mountains alarmed gods, sages, and creatures who feared catastrophic falls.
Collective responsibility: the cosmos reacts to danger by seeking measures that preserve safety and stability.