Shloka 18
नक्षत्राण्यृतवश्चैव मासा: पक्षा: सवत्सरा: | वैनतेया: समुद्राश्च॒ कद्रुजा: पन्नगास्तथा
nakṣatrāṇy ṛtavaś caiva māsāḥ pakṣāḥ savatsarāḥ | vainateyāḥ samudrāś ca kadrujāḥ pannagās tathā ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Mögen die Sternbilder und die Jahreszeiten, die Monate und die Halbmonate samt dem Kreislauf der Jahre; mögen Garuḍa, der Sohn der Vinatā, und die Ozeane; und mögen die aus Kadru geborenen Schlangen—möge all dies uns tragen und beschützen.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Reverent remembrance of the cosmic order—time divisions (seasons, months, fortnights, years) and primordial beings (Garuḍa, oceans, nāgas)—is presented as a dharmic act that aligns the mind with ṛta (order) and is sought as a source of protection and well-being.
Bhīṣma continues a long, structured enumeration of revered powers and beings. This verse specifically invokes celestial/time markers and major mythic entities (Garuḍa, oceans, serpents) as part of a protective recitation meant to safeguard the listener/reciter.