Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 11

आकाशमेघवर्णनम् / Description of the Sky Filled with Rain-Clouds

महानदीभिर्बलद्वीभिस्तत्र तत्र सहस्रश: । आपूर्यमाणमत्यर्थ नृत्यन्तमिव चोर्मिभि:,बहुत-सी बड़ी-बड़ी नदियाँ सहस्रोंकी संख्यामें आकर उसमें यत्र-तत्र मिलतीं और उसे अधिकाधिक भरती रहती थीं। वह भुजाओंके समान ऊँची लहरोंको ऊपर उठाये नृत्य-सा कर रहा था

mahānadībhir baladvībhis tatra tatra sahasraśaḥ | āpūryamāṇam atyarthaṁ nṛtyantam iva cormibhiḥ ||

Śaunaka schildert eine gewaltige Wasserfläche, die von allen Seiten gespeist wurde: zahllose große Flüsse, dazu kräftige Ströme und Rinnen, flossen hierhin und dorthin ein und füllten sie immer mehr. Von Macht geschwollen, schien sie zu tanzen, wenn ihre Wogen hoch aufstiegen wie erhobene Arme — ein Bild überwältigender Naturkraft und unablässiger Bewegung innerhalb der Ordnung der Welt.

महानदीभिःby/with great rivers
महानदीभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमहानदी
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
बलद्वीभिःby/with mighty streams (lit. strong waters)
बलद्वीभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबलद्वी
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
तत्रhere and there
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
सहस्रशःby thousands; in thousands
सहस्रशः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहस्रशस्
आपूर्यमाणम्being filled
आपूर्यमाणम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√पॄ (पूरणे)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular, शानच् (present passive participle)
अत्यर्थम्excessively; very much
अत्यर्थम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्यर्थ
नृत्यन्तम्dancing
नृत्यन्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Root√नृत् (नृत्ये)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)
इवas if; like
इव:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
and
:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ऊर्मिभिःwith waves
ऊर्मिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootऊर्मि
FormMasculine/Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

शौनक उवाच

शौनक (Śaunaka)
महानदी (great rivers)
ऊर्मि (waves)

Educational Q&A

The verse primarily offers a vivid simile: nature’s immense forces appear animated, yet they follow an intelligible pattern—many rivers converging to fill a larger expanse. It supports the epic’s broader sensibility that the world’s power can be awe-inspiring while still operating within an underlying order.

Śaunaka is describing a great water-body (such as a sea or vast river-system) into which thousands of large rivers and strong currents merge from many directions, continually increasing its fullness; the waves rise like arms, making it look as though it is dancing.