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Shloka 12

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम्

Bharata’s Ominous Dream

स्वप्नेऽपि सागरं शुष्कं चन्द्रं च पतितं भवि।उपरुद्धां च जगतीं तमसेव समावृताम्।।2.69.11।।औपवाह्यस्य नागस्य विषाणं शकलीकृतम्।सहसाचापि संशान्तं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्।।2.69.12।।अवतीर्णां च पृथिवीं शुष्कां श्च विविधान् द्रुमान्।अहं पश्यामि विध्वस्तान् सधूमांश्चापि पर्वतान्।।2.69.13।।

aupavāhyasya nāgasya viṣāṇaṃ śakalīkṛtam | sahasā cāpi saṃśāntaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam || 2.69.12 ||

স্বপ্নত মই ৰাজাৰ্হ, আৰোহণযোগ্য হাতীৰ দাঁতটো টুকুৰা-টুকুৰা হৈ ভাঙি যোৱা দেখিলোঁ; আৰু জ্বলি থকা অগ্নিও হঠাতে শান্ত হৈ গ’ল—বল আৰু মঙ্গল-ব্যৱস্থাৰ পতনৰ অশুভ সংকেত যেন।

pīṭheon a seat
pīṭhe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
kārṣṇāyaseiron (made of iron)
kārṣṇāyase:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkārṣṇāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘pīṭhe’): ‘made of iron’
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
enamthis (him)
enam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
niṣaṇṇamseated
niṣaṇṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootniṣaṇṇa (कृदन्त; ni-√sad धातु, क्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘enam’)
kṛṣṇa-vāsasamclad in black clothes
kṛṣṇa-vāsasam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कृष्णं वासः यस्य’ (having black garments); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘enam’)
prahasantilaugh (at)
prahasanti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Roothas (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: pra-
smaindeed (past narrative marker)
sma:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsma (अव्यय)
Formस्म-शब्दः भूतार्थे/वृत्त्यर्थे (particle indicating past/habitual in narration)
rājānamthe king
rājānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
pramadāḥwomen
pramadāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
kṛṣṇa-piṅgalāḥdark-tawny (complexioned)
kṛṣṇa-piṅgalāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara): ‘कृष्णाश्च पिङ्गलाश्च’ (dark and tawny); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘pramadāḥ’)

In that dream I beheld the sea being dried up and the Moon fallen onto the ground. I saw the earth as though enveloped by darkness and obscured, the tusk of an elephant worthy of a ride by the monarch broken into pieces, a blazing fire extinguished suddenly, the earth split open, various trees dried up and mountains crumbled and covered with smoke.

B
Bharata
N
nāga (elephant)

FAQs

The verse frames ‘dharma’ indirectly through ominous symbols: royal power (elephant-tusk) and sacred order (fire) appear broken and extinguished. The implied lesson is vigilance—when signs of disorder arise, one should respond with responsibility, truthfulness, and care for the kingdom’s moral order rather than denial or complacency.

Bharata has awakened distressed after a frightening dream. He recounts specific dream-images as inauspicious omens, foreshadowing calamity in Ayodhya and danger to the royal household.

Bharata’s sincerity and moral sensitivity: he is deeply unsettled by signs that threaten righteousness and the welfare of others, showing conscientious concern rather than self-interest.