SB 4.5.8 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

वाता न वान्ति न हि सन्ति दस्यव: प्राचीनबर्हिर्जीवति होग्रदण्ड: । गावो न काल्यन्त इदं कुतो रजो लोकोऽधुना किं प्रलयाय कल्पते ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

vātā na vānti na hi santi dasyavaḥ prācīna-barhir jīvati hogra-daṇḍaḥ gāvo na kālyanta idaṁ kuto rajo loko ’dhunā kiṁ pralayāya kalpate

Synonyms

vātāḥ — the winds ; na vānti — are not blowing ; na — not ; hi — because ; santi — are possible ; dasyavaḥ — plunderers ; prācīna — barhiḥ — old King Barhi ; jīvati — is living ; ha — still ; ugra — daṇḍaḥ — who would sternly punish ; gāvaḥ — the cows ; na kālyante — are not being driven ; idam — this ; kutaḥ — from where ; rajaḥ — dust ; lokaḥ — the planet ; adhunā — now ; kim — is it ; pralayāya — for dissolution ; kalpate — to be considered ready .

Translation

Conjecturing on the origin of the storm, they said: There is no wind blowing, and no cows are passing, nor is it possible that this dust storm could be raised by plunderers, for there is still the strong King Barhi, who would punish them. Where is this dust storm blowing from? Is the dissolution of the planet now to occur?

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The winds are not blowing. It is not thieves because King Prācīnabarhi, who administers severe punishment, is living. No one is herding cows. Where is the dust coming from? Is the world ready for final destruction? They considered various possibilities. It is evident that Prācīnabarhi was the King at that time.

Purport

Specifically significant in this verse is prācīna-barhir jīvati. The king of that part of the land was known as Barhi, and although he was old, he was still living, and he was a very strong ruler. Thus there was no possibility of an invasion by thieves and plunderers. Indirectly it is stated here that thieves, plunderers, rogues and unwanted population can exist only in a state or kingdom where there is no strong ruler. When, in the name of justice, thieves are allowed liberty, the state and kingdom are disturbed by such plunderers and unwanted population. The dust storm created by the soldiers and assistants of Lord Śiva resembled the situation at the time of the dissolution of this world. When there is a need for the dissolution of the material creation, this function is conducted by Lord Śiva. Therefore the situation now created by him resembled the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation.