Shloka 17

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

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

Look—the sun’s radiance is struck down, and the heavenly bodies seem to clash in the sky. Bewildered beings appear as if aflame and weeping; heaven and earth seem to burn.

सूर्यम्the sun
सूर्यम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootसूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
हतप्रभम्with luster struck down; dimmed
हतप्रभम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootहत-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक; हत + प्रभ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (हता प्रभा यस्य/हतप्रभः) विशेषणम् (सूर्यम्)
पश्यsee! behold!
पश्य:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
ग्रह-मर्दम्crushing/affliction by planets (eclipse-like)
ग्रह-मर्दम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootग्रह-मर्द (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रह + मर्द)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ग्रहाणां मर्दः)
मिथःmutually, against each other
मिथः:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमिथः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (reciprocal adverb)
दिविin the sky
दिवि:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootदिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
ससङ्कुलैःwith (them) crowded/teeming
ससङ्कुलैः:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootस-सम्-√कुल्? → सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + स- (उपसर्गवत् ‘स’ = ‘सहित’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (‘स’ = ‘सहित’)—‘सङ्कुलैः’ इति विशेषणम् (भूतगणैः)
भूतगणैःby hosts of beings
भूतगणैः:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootभूत-गण (प्रातिपदिक; भूत + गण)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां गणाः)
ज्वलितेare blazing
ज्वलिते:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative adjective)
TypeVerb
Rootज्वल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘रोदसी’ इति विशेष्येण सह समन्वयः
इवas if
इव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparator)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-अव्यय
रोदसीheaven and earth (the two worlds)
रोदसी:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootरोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचन-प्रयोगः)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्यावापृथिव्यौ/द्यावाभूमी (heaven and earth)
A
Arjuna

FAQs

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.

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.

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.