Shloka 38

सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge

Devanagari script

अवधारणशब्दश्चदारुणस्समपद्यत ।तस्मात्तद्बाणनिपातेनत्वपःकुक्षिष्वशोषयत् ।।।।

Transliteration

avadhāraṇa-śabdaś ca dāruṇaḥ samapadyata |

tasmāt tad-bāṇa-nipātena tv apaḥ kukṣiṣv aśoṣayat ||

Translation

Ein schauriges Krachen erhob sich; und durch eben den Fall des Pfeiles vertrockneten die Wasser in den Höhlungen der Erde.

Word by Word

• अवधारणशब्दः: a (restraining/cracking) sound
• अवधारणशब्दः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधारणशब्द = अवधारण + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (a restraining/holding sound; a cracking/rumbling sound)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• दारुणः: terrible
• दारुणः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of अवधारणशब्दः

• समपद्यत: arose; occurred
• समपद्यत: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from that)

• तद्बाणनिपातेन: by the impact of that arrow
• तद्बाणनिपातेन: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्बाणनिपात = तद् + बाण + निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (by the fall/impact of that arrow)

• त्वपः: the waters
• त्वपः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; वैदिक/काव्य-रूप (त्वपः = ताः अपः)

• कुक्षिषु: in the cavities
• कुक्षिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अशोषयत्: dried up; caused to dry
• अशोषयत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Causative imperfect: णिच्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (a-śoṣayat = made dry)

Context

A crack caused in the ground by letting off the dart produced terrific sound and by that, the water in the cavities of the ground dried up.

Characters & Entities

• Arrow (bāṇa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is protective restraint: when a natural force becomes harmful, righteous power acts to limit it, restoring balance for the welfare of living beings.

What is the narrative situation?

Following the arrow’s impact and the earth’s cracking sound, the subterranean waters in the ground’s hollows are made to dry up.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lokasaṃgraha (welfare of the world): the capacity to intervene for collective good rather than for personal gain.