Shloka 16
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Kṛṣṇa’s Rudra-Cosmogony Explanation (सौप्तिक पर्व, अध्याय १७)
ता: सृष्टमात्रा: क्षुधिता: प्रजा: सर्वा: प्रजापतिम् । बिभक्षयिषवो राजन् सहसा प्राद्रवंस्तदा,राजन! सृष्टि होते ही समस्त प्रजा भूखसे पीड़ित हो प्रजापतिको ही खा जानेकी इच्छासे सहसा उनके पास दौड़ी गयी
tāḥ sṛṣṭamātrāḥ kṣudhitāḥ prajāḥ sarvāḥ prajāpatiṃ | bibhakṣayiṣavo rājan sahasā prādravāṃs tadā ||
Begitu diciptakan, semua makhluk itu, tersiksa oleh lapar, wahai Raja, seketika bergegas menuju Prajāpati, terdorong hasrat untuk melahap bahkan sang pencipta mereka sendiri.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how raw hunger and desire, if not restrained by dharma and self-governance, can become violently self-destructive—so extreme that beings may turn against the very principle or source that sustains them (Prajāpati).
Immediately after their creation, the beings become intensely hungry and, in a sudden rush, run toward Prajāpati with the intention of eating him; Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.