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 disse: Então, ó grande rei, ergueu-se um vento feroz que fazia os pelos se arrepiarem. Naquele mesmo instante, Rāhu tomou o Sol e, simultaneamente, também a Lua—um presságio ominoso no desenrolar dos fatos, como se a ordem cósmica fosse perturbada, espelhando a tensão da narrativa.
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.