Shloka 9

Vālakhilya-Tapas and the Birth of Garuḍa (वालखिल्यतपः-गरुडोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

रमणीयं शिवं पुण्यं सर्वर्जनमनोहरैः । नानापक्षिरुतं रम्यं कद्रूपुत्रप्रहर्षणम्‌,वह वन रमणीय, मंगलकारी और पवित्र होनेके साथ ही लोगोंके मनको मोहनेवाले सभी उत्तम गुणोंसे युक्त था। भाँति भाँतिके पक्षियोंके कलरवोंसे व्याप्त एवं परम सुन्दर होनेके कारण वह कढद्रूके पुत्रोंका आनन्द बढ़ा रहा था

Transliteration

ramaṇīyaṃ śivaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvajanamanoharaiḥ | nānāpaksirutaṃ ramyaṃ kadrūputrapraharṣaṇam ||

Translation

كانت تلك الغابة بهيّةً، مباركةً، مقدّسةً—موشّاةً بخصالٍ فاضلةٍ تأسر قلوب الجميع. وقد امتلأت بأصوات الطيور على اختلاف أنواعها، وكانت فائقة الجمال، فزادت سرور أبناء كَدْرُو (الحَيّات).

Word by Word

रमणीयम्delightful, charming

शिवम्auspicious, beneficent

पुण्यम्holy, meritorious

सर्वजनमनोहरैःwith (qualities) that delight the minds of all people

नानाvarious, many kinds of

पक्षिरुतम्filled with birds’ cries

रम्यम्beautiful, pleasing

कद्रूपुत्रप्रहर्षणम्causing joy to Kadru’s sons (the serpents)

Speaker

पितामह उवाच

Characters & Entities

प

पितामह (Pitāmaha/Bhīṣma as narrator-speaker)

क

कद्रू (Kadrū)

क

कद्रूपुत्राः (Kadru’s sons—Nāgas/serpents)

व

वन (forest)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a place characterized by śiva (auspiciousness) and puṇya (sacred merit) naturally uplifts and delights living beings. It reflects an ethical-cultural idea in the Mahābhārata that environments imbued with purity and harmony support well-being and joy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Pitāmaha describes a beautiful, bird-filled, holy forest whose charm increases the happiness of Kadru’s sons—the Nāgas—setting a vivid scene within the Adi Parva’s account involving serpents and their surroundings.