Shloka 17
उच्चैःश्रवसः वर्णविपणः तथा नागशापः
Uccaiḥśravas Color-Wager and the Nāga Curse
ते धूमसड्घा: सम्भूता मेघसड्घा: सविद्युतः । अभ्यवर्षन् सुरगणान् श्रमसंतापकर्शितान्,वे धूमसमुदाय बिजलियोंसहित मेघोंकी घटा बनकर परिश्रम एवं संतापसे कष्ट पानेवाले देवताओंपर जलकी धारा बरसाते रहते थे
te dhūmasaṅghāḥ sambhūtā meghasaṅghāḥ savidyutaḥ | abhyavarṣan suragaṇān śramasantāpakarśitān ||
Aquellas masas de humo, al reunirse y transformarse en cúmulos de nubes con relámpagos, derramaron lluvia sobre las huestes de dioses, agotadas por el esfuerzo y abrasadas por la aflicción, brindándoles alivio en medio de la fatiga.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a restorative turn in adversity: forces that appear harsh or obscuring (smoke) can transform into beneficent agents (rain-bearing clouds), suggesting that endurance through toil and distress may be met by timely relief within the larger cosmic order.
Śaunaka describes how the smoke-masses become lightning-filled cloud-banks and then rain upon the exhausted gods, who are suffering from exertion and oppressive heat/distress.