Shloka 32

ततो महीं परिययौ पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्‌ । शमयन्‌ सर्वतः पापान्‌ स्वकर्मसु च योजयन्‌

tato mahīṁ pariyayau parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān | śamayan sarvataḥ pāpān svakarmasu ca yojayan

Then he ranged over the earth like a cloud heavy with rain, soothing and washing away sins on every side, and guiding people to be firmly established in their own rightful duties (svakarma).

ततःthen; thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततस्
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')
महीम्the earth
महीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमही
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
परिययौwent around; traversed
परिययौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-या
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular
पर्जन्यःthe rain-cloud; Parjanya
पर्जन्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपर्जन्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike; as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
FormAvyaya
वृष्टिमान्rain-bearing; full of rain
वृष्टिमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृष्टिमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शमयन्pacifying; quelling
शमयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootशम्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वतःon all sides; everywhere
सर्वतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतस्
FormAvyaya
पापान्sins; evils
पापान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
स्वकर्मसुin their own duties/actions
स्वकर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
FormAvyaya
योजयन्engaging; appointing; causing to be joined
योजयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootयुज्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

P
Parjanya (rain-cloud/rain-god)
M
Mahī (the earth)

Educational Q&A

A righteous leader (or exemplary person) benefits society by reducing wrongdoing and re-establishing people in their proper duties (svakarma). Ethical order is portrayed as something that can be restored through guidance, discipline, and dharmic alignment—like rain that cools and cleanses the world.

Bhīṣma describes a figure who travels across the land, compared to a rain-bearing cloud. As he moves, he pacifies evils everywhere and directs people back to their appropriate occupations and responsibilities, implying the spread of dharma and the stabilization of society.