Shloka 27

उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents

Devanagari script

संवत्सरस्थायिनौ च ग्रहौ प्रज्वलितावुभौ । विशाखाया: समीपस्थौ बृहस्पतिशनैश्लरी,वर्षपर्यन्त एक राशिपर रहनेवाले दो प्रकाशमान ग्रह बृहस्पति और शनैश्वर तिर्यग्वेधके द्वारा विशाखा नक्षत्रके समीप आ गये हैं

Transliteration

saṃvatsarasthāyinau ca grahau prajvalitāv ubhau | viśākhāyāḥ samīpasthau bṛhaspati-śanaiścarau ||

Translation

قال فياسا: «كوكبان متّقدان—المشتري (بْرِهَسْپَتِي) وزحل (شَنَيْشْچَرَ)—وقد لبثا معًا في برجٍ واحد سنةً كاملة، قد بلغا موضعًا قريبًا من المنزلة القمرية فيشاخا (Viśākhā)».

Word by Word

संवत्सरस्थायिनौlasting for a year (remaining in one sign for a year)

चand

ग्रहौtwo planets

प्रज्वलितौblazing, shining

उभौboth

विशाखायाःof Viśākhā (nakṣatra)

समीपस्थौsituated near

बृहस्पतिBṛhaspati (Jupiter)

शनैश्चरौand Śanaiścara (Saturn) (as the pair)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)

Śanaiścara (Saturn)

Viśākhā (nakṣatra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses an unusual astronomical configuration as a moral-symbolic warning: when cosmic signs appear disturbed, it reflects and foretells disorder in human conduct. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical vision, neglect of dharma and escalation of hostility manifest as both social chaos and ominous portents, urging restraint, reflection, and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa is describing alarming celestial signs preceding the great conflict. He notes that Jupiter and Saturn, shining intensely and lingering unusually long in one sign, have moved near the Viśākhā nakṣatra—an omen-like detail that contributes to the atmosphere of impending catastrophe around the Kurukṣetra war.