Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
नद्यश्न सुमहावेगा: प्रतिस्रोतोवहा भवन् । नृपश्रेष्ठी तालाबों और कूपोंमें रक्तका उफान आने लगा और महान् वेगशालिनी नदियाँ उलटी अपने उद्गमकी ओर बहने लगीं
nadyas tu sumahāvegāḥ pratisrotovahā bhavan |
Wahai raja yang utama, sungai-sungai yang dahulu mengalir deras tiba-tiba mengalir melawan arus, berpaling kembali ke punca; dan kolam serta perigi pun meluap dengan gelombang darah.
वायुदेव उवाच
When adharma intensifies—especially through mass violence—its effects are portrayed as cosmic: the natural order itself seems to invert. The verse uses ominous signs to underscore ethical collapse and the inevitability of consequence.
Vāyu-deva reports terrifying portents: rivers reverse their flow and water sources appear to surge with blood. These are presented as war-omens indicating imminent catastrophe and the world’s disturbance during the Kurukṣetra conflict.