Shloka 23

Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

चन्द्रमण्डलशु भ्राणि किडुकिणीजालवन्ति च । अनेकशतभौमानि सान्तर्जलवनानि च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | candramaṇḍalaśubhrāṇi kiḍukiṇījālavanti ca | anekaśatabhaumāni sāntarjalavanāni ca |

Translation

Dijo Bhīṣma: «Algunas (mansiones o palacios aéreos) deslumbraban, blancas como el disco de la luna. Otras estaban adornadas con redes de flecos de las que pendían diminutas campanillas. Muchas tenían cientos de pisos y terrazas, y en su interior había hermosos estanques y arboledas: mundos completos de deleite y abundancia.»

Word by Word

• चन्द्रमण्डलशुभ्राणि: bright/white like the moon-disc
• चन्द्रमण्डलशुभ्राणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्रमण्डल-शुभ्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• किडुकिणीजालवन्ति: having networks/fringes of small bells
• किडुकिणीजालवन्ति: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किडुकिणी-जाल-वत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अनेकशतभौमानि: having many hundreds of floors/levels
• अनेकशतभौमानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक-शत-भौम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सान्तर्जलवनानि: having inside them water-reservoirs and groves
• सान्तर्जलवनानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अन्तः-जल-वन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• candramaṇḍala (moon-orb)
• kiḍukiṇī (tiny bells)
• jāla (ornamental net/fringe)
• multi-storeyed mansions/palaces (bhaūma)
• internal reservoirs (jala)
• groves/forests (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contributes to a didactic portrayal of extraordinary prosperity and refined enjoyment, often used in the Anuśāsana context to illustrate the fruits of merit (puṇya) and righteous conduct—while implicitly reminding that such splendor is contingent and not the ultimate aim compared to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing magnificent residences (or palace-like structures), emphasizing their moonlike brilliance, ornate bell-fringed decorations, great height with many storeys, and the presence of inner water-reservoirs and groves—painting a vivid picture of opulence.