Shloka 74

Devanagari script

ततो गजकुलप्रख्यास्तडिन्मालाविभूषिता: । उत्तिष्ठन्ति महामेघा नभस्यद्भुतदर्शना:,इसके बाद आकाशमें महान्‌ मेघोंकी घोर घटा घिर आती है, जो अद्भुत दिखायी देता है। उनमेंसे प्रत्येक मेघ-समूह हाथियोंके झुंडकी भाँति विशालकाय और श्यामवर्ण तथा बिजलीकी मालाओंसे विभूषित होता है

Transliteration

tato gajakula-prakhyās taḍin-mālā-vibhūṣitāḥ | uttiṣṭhanti mahāmeghā nabhasy adbhuta-darśanāḥ ||

Translation

Then, in the sky, wondrous to behold, vast storm-clouds rose up—huge like herds of elephants and adorned with garlands of lightning—forming a dark, awe-inspiring mass overhead.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

गजकुलप्रख्याःresembling a herd of elephants

तडिन्मालाविभूषिताःadorned with garlands of lightning

उत्तिष्ठन्तिrise up, arise

महामेघाःgreat clouds

नभसिin the sky

अद्भुतदर्शनाःof wondrous appearance

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

sky (nabhas)

mahāmeghāḥ (great clouds)

taḍit (lightning)

gajakula (elephant herd, as simile)

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 highlights how the epic uses powerful natural imagery as a moral and narrative signal: human plans unfold under forces larger than oneself, inviting humility and attentiveness to omens and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a dramatic change in the sky: enormous, dark clouds rise and gather, flashing with lightning like garlands, compared to elephant herds—creating an ominous, awe-filled setting.