Shloka 37
प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्
Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host
अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धाग्रहाश्चनचकाशिरे ।।।।मेघाश्चखरनिर्घोषारथस्योपरिरक्षसः ।ववृषंरुधिरंचास्यसिषिचुश्चपुरस्सरान् ।।।।
anyonyam abhisaṁrabdhā grahāś ca na cakāśire | meghāś ca khara-nirghoṣā rathasyopari rakṣasaḥ | vavṛṣuṁ rudhiraṁ cāsya siṣicuś ca purassarān ||
Bintang-bintang seakan bertembung sesama sendiri, lalu tidak lagi bersinar; awan pun mengaum garang. Di atas kereta Rākṣasa itu, hujan darah tercurah, membasahi mereka yang berjalan di hadapan.
The planets clashing with one another did not shine. The clouds were violent like donkeys and rained blood on top of the chariot and the marching Rakshasas drenched.
FAQs
Cosmic disorder mirrors moral disorder: when adharma rises, the world is depicted as losing clarity (planets ‘do not shine’), underscoring dharma as the principle that sustains order and truth.
Immediately before or during Prahasta’s advance, terrifying celestial and atmospheric omens appear, including the imagery of ‘blood-rain’ over the Rākṣasa forces.
Moral accountability is emphasized indirectly: the Rākṣasa host is shown moving under signs of impending downfall, implying the need for repentance and truth-alignment (satya) rather than persistence in wrongdoing.