Mahabharata 1.32.5 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 32, Shloka 5
Ananta-Śeṣa Tapas and the Bearing of the Earth (अनन्त-शेष-तपस् तथा महीधारणम्)
रजश्नलोद्धूय सुमहत् पक्षवातेन खेचर: । कृत्वा लोकान् निरालोकांस्तेन देवानवाकिरत्
rajaśnaloddhūya sumahat pakṣavātena khecaraḥ | kṛtvā lokān nirālokaṃs tena devān avākirat ||
रजः श्नलोद्धूय सुमहत् पक्षवातेन खेचरः। कृत्वा लोकान् निरालोकान् तेन देवानवाकिरत्॥
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sheer force and spectacle can temporarily obscure even divine clarity—darkness here symbolizes confusion and disruption of order. Ethically, it cautions that power used to overwhelm others creates fear and disorder, even when directed at exalted beings.
The king of birds beats his wings so powerfully that a massive dust cloud rises, darkening the worlds and covering the gods. It depicts a dramatic, intimidating display of might that momentarily blinds and confounds the celestial assembly.
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