Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अत्र नानाविधाकारास्तिमयो नैकरूपिण: । अप्सु सोमप्रभां पीत्वा वसन्ति जलचारिण:,नाना प्रकारकी आकृति तथा भाँति-भाँतिके रूपवाले जलचारी तिमि (ह्लेल) मत्स्य चन्द्रमाकी किरणोंका पान करते हुए यहाँ जलमें निवास करते हैं

Transliteration

atra nānāvidhākārās timayo naikarūpiṇaḥ | apsu somaprabhāṃ pītvā vasanti jalacāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Here dwell aquatic beings—timis and other water-rovers—of many kinds and ever-changing forms. Drinking in the moon’s radiance upon the waters, they abide within this realm of the deep.

Word by Word

अत्रhere

नाना-विध-आकाराःhaving forms of various kinds

तिमयःtimis (a kind of large fish/sea-creature)

न-एक-रूपिणःnot of one form; multiform

अप्सुin the waters

सोम-प्रभाम्moonlight (the moon's radiance)

पीत्वाhaving drunk

वसन्तिthey dwell/live

जल-चारिणःwater-roamers; aquatic creatures

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Soma (the Moon)

timis (timayaḥ)

aquatic beings (jalacāriṇaḥ)

waters (apsu)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse evokes a vision of the natural-cosmic order: diverse beings live according to their own natures, sustained by subtle nourishment (moonlight on water). It underscores plurality in creation and the quiet harmony of beings abiding in their proper domain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a wondrous aquatic realm, noting that many kinds of water-dwelling creatures—timis among them—reside there, figuratively ‘drinking’ the moon’s radiance reflected upon the waters.