Shloka 4

उल्काश्ष्‌ ज्वलितास्तस्य दीप्ता: पाश्वे प्रपेदिरे,उसके पार्श्चभागमें प्रज्वलित एवं प्रकाशित उल्काएँ गिरने लगीं। गीध, कंक, बगले आदि भयंकर पक्षी अपनी बोली सुनाने लगे और एक-दूसरेसे सटकर वृत्रासुरके ऊपर चक्रकी भाँति घूमने लगे

ulkāś ca jvalitās tasya dīptāḥ pārśve prapedire | gṛdhra-kaṅka-bakādayaḥ krūrāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ svāṃ vācaṃ prāduścakruḥ parasparaṃ saṃśliṣyā vṛtrāsurasya upari cakravat paryavartanta |

قال بهيشما: «بدأت شُهُبٌ ملتهبة، متقدة بالنار، تهوي إلى جانبه. وراحت طيورٌ مفزعة—كالنسور والبلشونات وما شابهها—تطلق صرخاتٍ خشنة، ثم ازدحمت متلاصقةً وراحت تدور فوق فِرِتْرَاسورا كقرصٍ دوّار.»

उल्काःmeteors, firebrands
उल्काः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउल्का
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
ज्वलिताःblazing
ज्वलिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootज्वलित (√ज्वल्)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
तस्यof him / his
तस्य:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
दीप्ताःshining, radiant
दीप्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदीप्त (√दीप्)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
पार्श्वेat the side
पार्श्वे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपार्श्व
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
प्रपेदिरेfell down / came down
प्रपेदिरे:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र√पद्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
U
ulkā (meteors)
G
gṛdhra (vultures)
K
kaṅka (carrion birds)
B
baka (herons/cranes)
V
Vṛtrāsura
C
cakra (wheel/disc imagery)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses ominous natural signs—meteors and carrion birds—to suggest that adharma and impending destruction manifest not only in human affairs but also as disturbances perceived in nature; it functions as a moral warning about the consequences of violent disorder.

Bhīṣma describes fearful portents: fiery meteors fall nearby, and dreadful birds cry out and circle tightly above Vṛtrāsura in a wheel-like formation, indicating an ominous, threatening moment.