Shloka 20
कृष्णाभ्यां रक्षितं दृष्टवा तं च दावमहंकृता: । खमुत्पेतुर्महाराज सुपर्णद्या: पतत्त्रिण:
kṛṣṇābhyāṃ rakṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca dāvam ahaṅkṛtāḥ | kham utpetur mahārāja suparṇadyāḥ patattriṇaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Melihat kebakaran rimba Khāṇḍava itu dijaga oleh Kṛṣṇa dan Arjuna, burung-burung—yang angkuh akan sayapnya yang indah dan kekuatannya—pun terbang naik ke langit, wahai Raja. Adegan itu menegaskan bahawa bahkan makhluk yang digerakkan oleh kesombongan dan naluri akan berundur di hadapan perlindungan dan kuasa yang tidak mampu mereka lawan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride (ahaṅkāra) collapses before superior protection and power: when Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna guard the scene, even confident creatures withdraw. Ethically, it suggests humility and discernment—knowing when resistance is futile and when to step back from destructive forces.
During the Khāṇḍava episode, the forest-fire is being secured/controlled by Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. Observing this, the birds—described as proud and splendid-winged—take flight into the sky, reacting to the guarded, perilous situation.