Shloka 5

रजश्नलोद्धूय सुमहत्‌ पक्षवातेन खेचर: । कृत्वा लोकान्‌ निरालोकांस्तेन देवानवाकिरत्‌,तदनन्तर पक्षिराजने अपने पंखोंकी प्रचण्ड वायुसे बहुत धूल उड़ाकर समस्त लोकोंमें अन्धकार फैला दिया और उसी धूलसे देवताओंको ढक दिया

rajaśnaloddhūya sumahat pakṣavātena khecaraḥ | kṛtvā lokān nirālokaṃs tena devān avākirat ||

Śaunaka said: The sky-ranging king of birds, beating his mighty wings, stirred up a vast cloud of dust. He plunged the worlds into darkness and, with that dust, covered the gods—an act of overwhelming force meant to confound and overpower even the celestial order.

रजःdust
रजः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरजस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्नलdense/thick (as an epithet of dust)
श्नल:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootश्नल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
उद्धूयhaving shaken up/raised
उद्धूय:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्-धू
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
सुमहत्very great
सुमहत्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसुमहत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
पक्षवातेनby the wind from (his) wings
पक्षवातेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपक्ष-वात
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
खेचरःthe sky-goer (bird)
खेचरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootखेचर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
लोकान्worlds
लोकान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
निरालोकान्devoid of light; darkened
निरालोकान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरालोक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तेनby that (dust/wind)
तेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
देवान्the gods
देवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अवाकिरत्covered/scattered over
अवाकिरत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-किॄ
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तत्that (then/thereupon)
तत्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अनन्तरम्after that; immediately thereafter
अनन्तरम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअनन्तर
Formtrue

शौनक उवाच

Ś
Śaunaka
P
pakṣirāja (king of birds)
D
devas (gods)
L
lokas (worlds/realms)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how sheer force and spectacle can temporarily obscure even divine clarity—darkness here symbolizes confusion and disruption of order. Ethically, it cautions that power used to overwhelm others creates fear and disorder, even when directed at exalted beings.

The king of birds beats his wings so powerfully that a massive dust cloud rises, darkening the worlds and covering the gods. It depicts a dramatic, intimidating display of might that momentarily blinds and confounds the celestial assembly.