Shloka 13

Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मघोषैर्विरहित: पर्वतो5यं न शोभते । रजसा तमसा चैव सोम: सोपप्लवो यथा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | brahmaghoṣair virahitaḥ parvato ’yaṃ na śobhate | rajasā tamasā caiva somaḥ sopaplavo yathā |

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Dieser Berg glänzt nicht mehr wie einst, da ihm der widerhallende Vortrag heiligen Wissens fehlt. Von Staub und Dunkel überzogen, gleicht er dem Mond, wenn Rāhu ihn ergreift—sein Licht ist gestört und wie verfinstert. Obgleich dieser Gipfel würdig ist, von göttlichen Rishis aufgesucht zu werden, erscheint er ohne den Klang vedischer Rezitation seines Glanzes beraubt, wie die Behausung von Waldleuten, der das Heilvolle fehlt.“

Word by Word

• {'brahma-ghoṣa': 'the sacred sound/chant of Brahman

• here, Vedic recitation and holy utterance', 'virahitaḥ': 'deprived of

• separated from', 'parvataḥ': 'mountain', 'ayam': 'this', 'na śobhate': 'does not shine

• does not appear beautiful', 'rajasā': 'by dust

• also by the guṇa ‘rajas’ (passion/activity)', 'tamasā': 'by darkness

• also by the guṇa ‘tamas’ (inertia/obscuration)', 'ca eva': 'and indeed', 'somaḥ': 'the moon', 'sopaplavaḥ': 'with disturbance/affliction

• eclipsed, troubled', 'yathā': 'as

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mountain (parvata)
• Soma (the Moon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that sacred sound—especially Vedic recitation and disciplined spiritual practice—sustains the auspiciousness and ‘radiance’ of a place and community. When such dharmic sound and conduct disappear, rajas and tamas (restlessness and obscuration) dominate, and even a naturally splendid setting appears spiritually diminished.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is describing a mountain/peak that once felt sanctified by the presence of holy recitations. Now, lacking those brahmaghoṣas, it seems dull and eclipsed—compared to the moon under affliction—signaling a perceived decline in sacred activity and the resulting loss of spiritual luster.