Shloka 31
शरेणादित्यवर्णेन कालाग्निसमतेजसा । तेडसुरा: सपुरास्तत्र दग्धा रुद्रेण भारत
śareṇādityavarṇena kālāgnisamatejasā | te ḍasurāḥ sapurās tatra dagdhā rudreṇa bhārata ||
Dijo Vāyu: «Con una sola flecha —radiante como el sol y abrasadora como el fuego de la disolución cósmica— Rudra, oh Bhārata, redujo a cenizas a los Asuras allí, junto con sus ciudades fortificadas.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames divine force as an instrument of restoring cosmic order: when destructive powers (Asuras) become entrenched behind seemingly impregnable fortresses, righteous authority (Rudra) can act decisively to remove them. The ethical emphasis is on protection of dharma through proportionate, purposeful power rather than violence for its own sake.
Vāyu describes Rudra’s annihilation of the Asuras: a sun-bright, dissolution-fire-like arrow is released, and the Asuras along with their cities are burned to ashes on the spot—an allusion to the famed destruction of the (three) demon cities.