Shloka 47
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
भूमि: प्रध्वस्तसंकाशा निर्वुक्षा शुष्ककानना | विच्छिन्नस्रोतसो नद्य: सरांस्यनुदकानि च,वे जलमें विचरनेवाले सर्पकी भाँति पानीमें ही छिपकर रहने लगे। ब्रह्महत्याके भयसे पीड़ित होकर जब देवराज इन्द्र अदृश्य हो गये, तब यह पृथ्वी नष्ट-सी हो गयी। यहाँके वृक्ष उजड़ गये, जंगल सूख गये, नदियोंका स्रोत छिन्न-भिन्न हो गया और सरोवरोंका जल सूख गया
bhūmiḥ pradhvastasaṅkāśā nirvṛkṣā śuṣkakānanā | vicchinnasrotaso nadyaḥ sarāṃsy anudakāni ca ||
Śalya disse: Quando Indra, atormentado pelo medo da brahmahatyā, desapareceu da vista, a própria terra pareceu como que arruinada. As árvores foram despojadas, as florestas secaram, as correntes dos rios se romperam e se dispersaram, e os lagos ficaram sem água.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links grave moral transgression and fear of its consequence (brahmahatyā) with a breakdown of cosmic and natural order: when the ruler of the gods withdraws, the world’s fertility and stability collapse, implying that adharma has tangible, world-affecting results.
Śalya describes a time when Indra became invisible due to the fear of brahmahatyā; as a result, the earth looked devastated—trees vanished, forests dried, river-currents were disrupted, and lakes lost their water—depicting widespread drought and disorder.