Shloka 17

Inauspicious Omens and Arjuna’s Return from Dvārakā

Devanagari script

सूर्यं हतप्रभं पश्य ग्रहमर्दं मिथो दिवि । ससङ्कुलैर्भूतगणैर्ज्वलिते इव रोदसी ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sūryaṁ hata-prabhaṁ paśya graha-mardaṁ mitho divi sasaṅkulair bhūta-gaṇair jvalite iva rodasī

Translation

Sieh: Der Glanz der Sonne schwindet; am Himmel scheinen Sterne und Planeten miteinander zu ringen. Verwirrte Wesen wirken, als brennten und weinten sie; Himmel und Erde erscheinen wie in Flammen.

Synonyms

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हतप्रभम्: with luster struck down; dimmed
• हतप्रभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक; हत + प्रभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (हता प्रभा यस्य/हतप्रभः) विशेषणम् (सूर्यम्)

• पश्य: see! behold!
• पश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ग्रह-मर्दम्: crushing/affliction by planets (eclipse-like)
• ग्रह-मर्दम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह-मर्द (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रह + मर्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ग्रहाणां मर्दः)

• मिथः: mutually, against each other
• मिथः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• दिवि: in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• ससङ्कुलैः: with (them) crowded/teeming
• ससङ्कुलैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-सम्-√कुल्? → सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + स- (उपसर्गवत् ‘स’ = ‘सहित’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (‘स’ = ‘सहित’)—‘सङ्कुलैः’ इति विशेषणम् (भूतगणैः)

• भूतगणैः: by hosts of beings
• भूतगणैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत-गण (प्रातिपदिक; भूत + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां गणाः)

• ज्वलिते: are blazing
• ज्वलिते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘रोदसी’ इति विशेष्येण सह समन्वयः

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• रोदसी: heaven and earth (the two worlds)
• रोदसी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचन-प्रयोगः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्यावापृथिव्यौ/द्यावाभूमी (heaven and earth)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about omens after Krishna’s disappearance?

This verse describes inauspicious cosmic signs—dimmed sunlight, planets seeming to clash, and horizons appearing ablaze with eerie beings—indicating a great change in the world’s fortune after Lord Krishna’s departure.

Why did Arjuna speak about the sun and planets becoming disturbed?

In the narrative of Canto 1, Chapter 14, Arjuna is observing alarming portents while returning toward Dvārakā; he voices these signs to convey that something profoundly unfavorable has occurred, connected with Krishna’s disappearance.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to fearful signs in modern life?

The verse reminds devotees to recognize impermanence and take shelter of Bhagavān through remembrance, prayer, and steady dharma, rather than becoming overwhelmed by external disturbances.