Shloka 20
कृष्णाभ्यां रक्षितं दृष्टवा तं च दावमहंकृता: । खमुत्पेतुर्महाराज सुपर्णद्या: पतत्त्रिण:
kṛṣṇābhyāṃ rakṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca dāvam ahaṅkṛtāḥ | kham utpetur mahārāja suparṇadyāḥ patattriṇaḥ ||
毗湿摩耶那说道：见那迦旃陀婆林的大火被奎师那与阿周那守护着，群鸟自恃羽翼华美、气力强盛，便腾空而起，飞向天际，噢大王。此景昭示：即便被虚荣与本能驱使的生灵，也会在不可抗拒的护持与威势之前退避。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride (ahaṅkāra) collapses before superior protection and power: when Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna guard the scene, even confident creatures withdraw. Ethically, it suggests humility and discernment—knowing when resistance is futile and when to step back from destructive forces.
During the Khāṇḍava episode, the forest-fire is being secured/controlled by Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. Observing this, the birds—described as proud and splendid-winged—take flight into the sky, reacting to the guarded, perilous situation.