Shloka 4.61.13

सूर्यानुगमनवृत्तान्तः — The Account of Following the Sun

Devanagari script

मनश्च मे हतं भूयस्सन्निवर्त्यतु संश्रयम्।यत्नेन महता ह्यस्मिन्पुनस्सन्धाय चक्षुषी।।4.61.12।।यत्नेन महता भूयो भास्करः प्रतिलोकितः।तुल्यः पृथ्वीप्रमाणेन भास्करः प्रतिभाति नौ।।4.61.13।।

Transliteration

na digvijñāyate yāmyā nāgneyī na ca vāruṇī | yugānte niyato loko hato dagdha ivāgninā ||

Translation

No direction could be discerned—neither south, nor southeast, nor west; the world looked as though, at the end of an age, it had been doomed and burned away by fire.

Context

'My mind was disturbed and I turned my attention from the object. Once again I focused my attention (on the Sun) and could see the Sungod with great effort. The Sun appeared to us equal in size to earth.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Yāmyā dik (south)
• Āgneyī dik (southeast)
• Vāruṇī dik (west)
• Yugānta

FAQs

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

Dharma values clarity and right orientation; when discernment collapses, action becomes unsafe—this cautions against reckless exertion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti describes losing all sense of direction and perceiving the world as if it were in apocalyptic dissolution.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) is highlighted by its absence; the verse underscores the need to preserve it.