Shloka 14

Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme

Devanagari script

न भ्राजते यथापूर्व निषादानामिवालय: । देवर्षिगणजुष्टो5पि वेदध्वनिनिराकृत:

Transliteration

na bhrājate yathāpūrva niṣādānām ivālayaḥ | devarṣigaṇajuṣṭo 'pi vedadhvaninirākṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ભીષ્મે કહ્યું—“આ સ્થાન હવે પહેલાં જેવી કાંતિ ધરાવતું નથી; તે નિષાદોના નિવાસ જેવું લાગે છે. દેવર્ષિઓના સમૂહો અહીં આવતાં હોવા છતાં, વેદધ્વનિના અભાવે તેની શોભા ક્ષીણ છે.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'na', 'definition': 'not'}, {'term': 'bhrājate', 'definition': 'shines, appears radiant'}, {'term': 'yathāpūrva', 'definition': 'as before, formerly'}, {'term': 'niṣādānām', 'definition': 'of the Niṣādas

• forest-dwelling tribes/people outside Vedic ritual culture (as portrayed in the epic)'}, {'term': 'iva', 'definition': 'like, as if'}, {'term': 'ālayaḥ', 'definition': 'dwelling, abode, habitation'}, {'term': 'devarṣi-gaṇa', 'definition': 'a multitude/group of divine seers'}, {'term': 'juṣṭaḥ', 'definition': 'frequented, resorted to, honored/served'}, {'term': 'api', 'definition': 'even, although'}, {'term': 'veda-dhvani', 'definition': 'sound/recitation of the Veda

• Vedic chant'}, {'term': 'nirākṛtaḥ', 'definition': 'excluded, removed, absent

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Niṣādas
• Devarṣis
• Veda (Vedic recitation/sound)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links the perceived sanctity and radiance of a place to the presence of Vedic sound (veda-dhvani). Even association with holy beings is portrayed as insufficient if the sustaining markers of Vedic ritual culture are absent; sacredness is framed as something maintained through disciplined recitation and practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a location that has lost its former splendor. He contrasts its earlier radiance with its present state, saying it resembles a Niṣāda dwelling because the sound of Vedic chanting is not heard there, despite the place being visited by divine seers.