Shloka 433
उत्पातदर्शनम् — Portents and Kāla among the Vṛṣṇis
मुसलं समवष्ट भ्य तस्थौ स मधुसूदन: । वहाँ मारे जानेवाले किसी योद्धाके मनमें वहाँसे भाग जानेका विचार नहीं होता था। कालचक्रके इस परिवर्तनको जानते हुए महाबाहु मधुसूदन वहाँ चुपचाप सब कुछ देखते रहे और मूसलका सहारा लेकर खड़े रहे
musalaṁ samavaṣṭabhya tasthau sa madhusūdanaḥ |
मुसलं समवष्टभ्य तस्थौ स मधुसूदनः। तस्मिन् देशे ये मरणाय नियताः, तेषां कस्यचिन्मनसि पलायनबुद्धिर्नाभवत्। कालचक्रस्य परिवर्तनं विदित्वा महाबाहुर्मधुसूदनः तूष्णीं सर्वं पश्यन् मुसलावलम्बनः स्थितवान्।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the sovereignty of Kāla (Time): when destiny ripens, ordinary impulses like escape or self-preservation lose force. Kṛṣṇa’s silent witnessing models restraint and acceptance of the cosmic order, even amid catastrophic events.
During the Mausala Parva’s account of the Yādavas’ end, Kṛṣṇa stands leaning on a musala, observing without intervening. The scene conveys that those fated to die do not think of fleeing, as the turn of Time drives events to their appointed conclusion.