Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 65: Viśvāmitra Becomes a Brahmarṣi
Text 1.65.13
प्रकम्पते च पृथिवी वायुर्वाति भृशाकुलः।
ब्रह्मन्न प्रतिजानीमो नास्तिको जायते जनः॥
prakampate ca pṛthivī vāyur vāti bhṛśākulaḥ
brahman na pratijānīmo nāstiko jāyate janaḥ
prakampate = trembles; ca = and; pṛthivī = the earth; vāyuḥ = the wind; vāti = blows; bhṛśākulaḥ = in severe agitation; brahman = O Lord Brahmā; na pratijānīmaḥ = we don’t see any way to neutralize it; nāstikaḥ = atheistic; jāyate = is becoming; janaḥ = the population.
The earth trembles and the wind blows in severe agitation. O Lord Brahmā, we don’t see any way to neutralize it. The population is becoming atheistic.
Because of the disturbance [created by Viśvāmitra’s fierce austerities], the population was abandoning the performance of scripturally prescribed duties like atheists.
In the next verse, the celestials redescribe [the cosmic situation] and [after that] state what should be done in this regard.