Shloka 38
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
ततो भीत: कलि: क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश बिभीतकम् | कलिस्त्वन्यैस्तदादृश्य: कथयन् नैषधेन वै,तदनन्तर कलियुग भयभीत हो तुरंत ही बहेड़ेके वृक्षमें समा गया। वह जिस समय निषधराज नलके साथ बात कर रहा था, उस समय दूसरे लोग उसे नहीं देख पाते थे
tato bhītaḥ kaliḥ kṣipraṁ praviveśa bibhītakam | kalis tv anyais tadādṛśyaḥ kathayan naiṣadhena vai |
Kemudian Kali, dalam ketakutan, segera masuk ke dalam pokok bibhītaka untuk bersembunyi. Dan ketika dia berbicara dengan Nala, raja Niṣadha, Kali tidak dapat dilihat oleh orang lain—kehadirannya tersembunyi daripada semua.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma often works through concealment and subtle influence rather than open force. The verse highlights how the disruptive power of Kali hides itself and operates unseen, implying the ethical need for vigilance, self-control, and discernment even when no obvious threat is visible.
Kali, afraid, takes refuge inside a bibhītaka tree. While he continues speaking with Nala, he remains invisible to everyone else, indicating that only Nala is directly engaged with (and exposed to) Kali’s influence at that moment.