प्राचीनबर्हिर्जीवति होग्रदण्डः ।
गावो न काल्यन्त इदं कुतो रजो
लोकोऽधुना किं प्रलयाय कल्पते ॥८॥
vÄtÄ na vÄnti na hi santi dasyavaḥ
prÄcÄ«na-barhir jÄ«vati hogra-daṇá¸aḥ
gÄvo na kÄlyanta idaá¹ kuto rajo
loko 'dhunÄ kiá¹ pralayÄya kalpate
vÄtÄḥ - the winds; na vÄnti - are not blowing; na - not; hi - because; santi - are possible; dasyavaḥ - plunderers; prÄcÄ«na-barhiḥ - old King Barhi; jÄ«vati - is living; ha - still; ugra-daṇá¸aḥ - who would sternly punish; gÄvaḥ - the cows; na kÄlyante - are not being driven; idam - this; kutaḥ - from where; rajaḥ - dust; lokaḥ - the planet; adhunÄ - now; kim - is it; pralayÄya - for dissolution; kalpate - to be considered ready.
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?
Specifically significant in this verse is prÄcÄ«na-barhir jÄ«vati. 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 Åšiva 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 Åšiva. Therefore the situation now created by him resembled the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation.
