Shloka 15
Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication
ततो ववौ महाराज मारुतो लोमहर्षण: । राहुरग्रसदादित्यं युगपत् सोममेव च,महाराज! उस समय रोंगटे खड़े कर देनेवाली प्रचण्ड वायु चलने लगी। राहुने एक ही समय सूर्य और चन्द्रमा दोनोंको ग्रस लिये
tato vavau mahārāja māruto lomaharṣaṇaḥ | rāhur agrasad ādityaṃ yugapat somam eva ca ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Lalu, wahai raja agung, bangkitlah angin kencang yang membuat bulu roma meremang. Pada saat yang sama, Rāhu menelan Matahari, dan serentak menelan Bulan juga—suatu petanda buruk dalam rangkaian peristiwa, seolah-olah tertib kosmos terganggu, mencerminkan ketegangan kisah yang sedang memuncak.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary natural phenomena are read as moral and narrative signals in the Mahābhārata: when the cosmic order appears disturbed (violent winds, eclipses), it frames human actions as occurring under heightened ethical scrutiny and impending consequence.
A terrifying wind begins to blow, and an eclipse-like event is described: Rāhu 'seizes' the Sun and, at the same time, the Moon. This functions as an ominous portent marking a critical moment in the story.