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Shloka 8

Nāga-prādhānya-nāma-kathana

Principal Nāga Names Enumerated

अथापश्यदृषीन्‌ हस्वानडुष्ठोदरवर्ष्मण: । पलाशवर्तिकामेकां वहत: संहतान्‌ पथि,उन्होंने मार्गमें बहुत-से ऐसे ऋषियोंको देखा जो कदमें बहुत ही छोटे थे। उनका सारा शरीर अँगूठेके मध्यभागके बराबर था। वे सब मिलकर पलाशकी एक बाती (छोटी-सी टहनी) लिये आ रहे थे

atha apaśyad ṛṣīn hrasvān aṇuṣṭhodara-varṣmaṇaḥ | palāśa-vartikām ekāṁ vahataḥ saṁhatān pathi ||

ثم رأى في الطريق جماعةً من الحكماء ضئيلي القامة غاية الضآلة—جسد كل واحدٍ منهم لا يزيد على مفصل الإبهام الأوسط—يسيرون معًا ويحملون غصنًا واحدًا من شجر البالاشا دقيقًا كأنه فتيلة.

अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
अपश्यत्saw
अपश्यत्:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3, singular, Parasmaipada
ऋषीन्sages
ऋषीन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootऋषि
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
ह्रस्वान्short (in stature)
ह्रस्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootह्रस्व
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
अङ्गुष्ठ-उदर-वर्ष्मणःwhose body was like the middle of a thumb (thumb-bellied-bodied)
अङ्गुष्ठ-उदर-वर्ष्मणः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअङ्गुष्ठ + उदर + वर्ष्मन्
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
पलाश-वर्तिकाम्a palāśa-wick / small palāśa twig
पलाश-वर्तिकाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपलाश + वर्तिका
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
एकाम्one
एकाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
वहतःcarrying
वहतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवह्
Formpresent active participle, masculine, accusative, plural
संहतान्assembled, together
संहतान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + हन् (→ संहत)
Formpast passive participle (used adjectivally), masculine, accusative, plural
पथिon the path
पथि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपथ्
Formneuter, locative, singular

शौनक उवाच

Ś
Śaunaka
ṛṣis (sages)
P
palāśa (tree)
P
palāśa-vartikā (a wick-like twig)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that spiritual potency and dharmic purpose are independent of outward appearance; even beings of minute form can embody great tapas and act effectively, especially through unity.

The speaker reports a striking sight: many extremely small sages, each thumb-joint-sized, traveling together along the road while carrying a single palāśa twig used like a wick.