Shloka 30

ताराब्यं कुमुदाकारमाकाशं निर्मल बहु । घनैर्मुक्ते नभो दृष्टवा लुब्धक: शीतविह्नल:,प्रभो! ताराओंसे भरा हुआ अत्यन्त निर्मल आकाश विकसित कुमुद-कुसुमोंसे सुशोभित सरोवर-सा प्रतीत होता था। आकाशको मेघोंसे मुक्त हुआ देख सर्दीसे काँपते हुए उस व्याधने सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंकी ओर दृष्टिपात किया और गाढ़े अन्धकारसे भरी हुई रात्रि देखकर मन-ही-मन विचार किया कि मेरा निवासस्थान तो यहाँसे बहुत दूर है

tārābhyaṃ kumudākāram ākāśaṃ nirmalaṃ bahu | ghanair mukte nabho dṛṣṭvā lubdhakaḥ śītavihvalaḥ ||

قال بهيشما: «كانت السماء شديدة الصفاء، مكتظّة بالنجوم، تبدو كبحيرة مزدانة بأزهار الكُمُد البيضاء المتفتّحة تمامًا. ولمّا رأى القبة وقد تحرّرت من الغيوم، أخذ الصيّاد—وهو يرتجف من البرد—يُجيل بصره في الجهات كلّها؛ ثم إذ أبصر الليل مثقلاً بالظلمة، حدّث نفسه أنّ مسكنه بعيدٌ جدًّا عن ذلك الموضع.»

ताराभ्यम्by/with (two) stars
ताराभ्यम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतारा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Dual
कुमुदाकारम्having the form/appearance of a kumuda (water-lily)
कुमुदाकारम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकुमुदाकार
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आकाशम्the sky
आकाशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
निर्मलम्clear, spotless
निर्मलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्मल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बहुmuch, very (greatly)
बहु:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
घनैःby/with clouds
घनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootघन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
मुक्तेwhen freed (from)
मुक्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootमुक्त
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
नभःthe sky
नभः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
लुब्धकःthe hunter
लुब्धकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलुब्धक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शीतविह्वलःdistressed/benumbed by cold
शीतविह्वलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशीतविह्वल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
L
lubdhaka (hunter)
Ā
ākāśa (sky)
T
tārā (stars)
K
kumuda (white water-lily)
G
ghana (clouds)
R
rātri (night)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses vivid natural imagery to frame a moral-narrative moment: human beings, when confronted with hardship (cold, darkness, distance), are driven to inward reflection and prudent assessment of their situation—an ethical prelude to choosing the right course of action (dharma) amid uncertainty.

Bhishma describes a hunter on a cold, cloudless night. The star-filled, clear sky resembles a lake bright with white lilies. Shivering, the hunter looks around in the deep darkness and thinks to himself that his home is far away from where he currently stands.