Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अभिभूतास्ततो देवा विषयाज्न प्रजज्ञिरे । न प्रत्यभाच्च यज्ञ: स देवतास्त्रेसिरे तथा,उससे अभिभूत होकर देवता किसी विषयको पहचान नहीं पाते थे, वह यज्ञ भी अच्छी तरह प्रतीत नहीं होता था। इससे सारे देवता भयसे थर्रा उठे

Transliteration

abhibhūtās tato devā viṣayāj jñaṃ prajajñire | na pratyabhāc ca yajñaḥ sa devatās tresire tathā ||

Translation

Lalu para dewa, tertindih oleh pengaruh itu, tidak lagi mampu mengenali objek-objek persepsi mereka dengan jelas. Bahkan yajña itu pun tidak tampak dalam wujudnya yang semestinya dan membawa berkah. Melihat kekacauan ini, semua dewa gemetar ketakutan.

Word by Word

अभिभूताःoverpowered, overwhelmed

ततःthen, thereafter

देवाःthe gods

विषयात्from the object/field (of perception)

नnot

प्रजज्ञिरेthey recognized/knew

नnot

प्रत्यभात्shone forth/appeared clearly

चand

यज्ञःthe sacrifice

सःthat/he

देवताःthe deities

त्रेसिरेthey trembled (in fear)

तथाthus, in that manner

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

द

देवा (the gods/deities)

य

यज्ञ (sacrifice/rite)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When destructive, unrighteous power prevails, it clouds discernment (jñāna) and destabilizes sacred order (yajña). The gods’ fear symbolizes that adharma does not merely harm individuals—it disturbs the moral and ritual foundations that uphold the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a moment of ominous disturbance: the gods are overwhelmed, perception and recognition falter, and the sacrifice no longer appears properly. This abnormality frightens the deities, indicating a grave imbalance in the cosmic and ethical order.