Shloka 106
मौसलपर्व — अध्याय ८
Arjuna’s evacuation of Dvārakā, Vasudeva’s rites, and the caravan’s crisis
त एरकाभिननिहता: पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम् | जो गदा, परिघ और शक्तियोंकी मार सह सकते थे वे परिघके समान सुदृढ़ बाहोंवाले यदुवंशी एरका नामक तृणविशेषके द्वारा मारे गये--यह समयका उलट-फेर तो देखिये
te erakābhinnihitāḥ paśya kālasya paryayam | ye gadā-parigha-śaktīnāṁ māraṁ sahituṁ śaknuvanti te parigha-samāna-sudṛḍha-bāhavaḥ yaduvaṁśyā erakā-nāmnā tṛṇa-viśeṣeṇa nihatāḥ — idaṁ kālasya viparyayaṁ paśya ||
Arjuna berkata: “Mereka ditumbangkan oleh rerumputan eraka belaka—lihatlah pembalikan yang dikerjakan oleh Waktu. Para Yādava yang lengannya sekeras palang besi, yang sanggup menahan hantaman gada, pentung, dan tombak, justru terbunuh oleh sehelai rumput bernama eraka.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the supremacy of Kāla (Time/Destiny) over human strength: even the mightiest warriors, capable of withstanding heavy weapons, can be brought down by something trivial when the ordained reversal arrives. It underscores impermanence and the futility of pride in power.
Arjuna is reflecting on the astonishing end of the Yādavas: instead of falling to formidable weapons in battle, they perish through violence involving eraka reeds—an event that appears absurd on the surface but is presented as the inevitable turn of Time completing the destined collapse of the clan.