Shloka 3
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
महाभूतविनाशान्ते प्रलये प्रत्युपस्थिते । सर्वप्राणभूतां धीरा महदशभ्युद्यते भयम्,धैर्यशाली महर्षियो! महाभूतोंका नाश होते समय जब प्रलयका अवसर आता है, उस समय समस्त प्राणियोंको महान् भय प्राप्त होता है
mahābhūtavināśānte pralaye pratyupasthite | sarvaprāṇabhūtānāṃ dhīrā mahad abhyudyate bhayam ||
Vāyu berkata: “Apabila peleraian semakin hampir dan unsur-unsur agung sampai ke penghujungnya, saat pralaya seakan berdiri di ambang pintu. Ketika itu, ketakutan yang besar bangkit dalam semua makhluk. Namun demikian, orang bijaksana dipanggil untuk tetap teguh—menghadapi goncangan kosmik dengan kebijaksanaan, bukan dengan panik.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that fear naturally arises when the world-order collapses, yet it implicitly commends the stance of the wise: to face impermanence with steadiness and understanding rather than being overwhelmed by terror.
Vāyudeva speaks about the approach of pralaya—the end of the great elements—describing how, at such a cosmic crisis, all beings are seized by great fear.