atha—at that time; rtvijah—the priests; yajamanah—the chief person performing the sacrifice (Daksa); sadasyah—all the persons assembled in the sacrificial arena; kakubhi udicyam—in the northern direction; prasamiksya—seeing; renum—the dust storm; tamah—darkness; kim—what; etat—this; kutah—from where; etat—this; rajah—dust; abhut—has come; iti—thus; dvijah—the brahmanas; dvija-patnyah—the wives of the brahmanas; ca—and; dadhyuh—began to speculate.