Shloka 18

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

मयूखैरुपसर्पद्भिर्हिमनीहारसंवृतैः।दूरमभ्युदितस्सूर्यश्शशाङ्क इव लक्ष्यते।।।।

Transliteration

mayūkhair upasarpadbhir himanīhārasaṃvṛtaiḥ | dūram abhyuditaḥ sūryaḥ śaśāṅka iva lakṣyate ||

Translation

The sun, risen far upon the horizon, appears like the moon, for its lengthening rays are veiled in frost and dew.

Word by Word

• मयूखैः: by rays
• मयूखैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; करणम्

• उपसर्पद्भिः: approaching/creeping (i.e., lengthening)
• उपसर्पद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + सृप् (धातु) -> उपसर्पत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः; विशेषणम् (for मयूखैः)

• हिम-नीहार-संवृतैः: covered by frost and mist
• हिम-नीहार-संवृतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक) + नीहार (प्रातिपदिक) + संवृत (कृदन्त; वृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (for मयूखैः); संवृत = भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP)

• दूरम्: far away
• दूरम्: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• अभ्युदितः: risen
• अभ्युदितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + उदि (धातु) -> अभ्युदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (for सूर्यः); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP)

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्ता (of लक्ष्यते in passive sense: 'is perceived')

• शशाङ्कः: the moon
• शशाङ्कः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; उपमानम्

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्

• लक्ष्यते: is seen/appears
• लक्ष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive), आत्मनेपदम्

Context

The heat of the Sun which we do not feel in the forenoon is comfortable during mid-day when the Sun shines slightly reddish white on earth.

Characters & Entities

• Sun (Sūrya)
• Moon (Śaśāṅka)

FAQs

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

It implies discernment (viveka): appearances can mislead (sun seeming like moon), so dharma requires careful perception before judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Dawn in winter: the distant sun is visually softened by frost and mist, altering its appearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and contemplative observation.