Shloka 26

अध्याय ८२ — केशवप्रयाणे निमित्तदर्शनम्

Omens and Reception During Keśava’s Departure

Devanagari script

मन्त्राहुतिमहाहोमैर्हूयमानश्व॒ पावक: । प्रदक्षिणमुखो भूत्वा विधूम: समपद्यत,मन्त्रपाठपूर्वक दी जानेवाली आहुतियोंसे युक्त बड़े-बड़े होमयज्ञोंद्वारा हविष्य पाकर अन्निदेव प्रदक्षिण-क्रमसे उठनेवाली लपटोंके साथ प्रज्वलित हो धूमरहित हो गये

Transliteration

mantrāhutimahāhomair hūyamānaś ca pāvakaḥ | pradakṣiṇamukho bhūtvā vidhūmaḥ samapadyata ||

Translation

Waiśampāyana berkata: Ketika api persembahan menerima oblations yang dipersembahkan dengan pembacaan mantra dalam homa-homa agung, Agni menyala dengan lidah api yang bergerak ke kanan (tanda mujur) dan menjadi jernih tanpa asap.

Word by Word

मन्त्राहुति-महा-होमैःby great homa-sacrifices with mantra-offerings

हूयमानःbeing offered/being invoked (by oblations)

पावकःAgni, the purifier (fire)

प्रदक्षिण-मुखःhaving the flame/face turning to the right (clockwise)

भूत्वाhaving become

विधूमःsmokeless

समपद्यतbecame / came to be

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Agni (Pāvaka)

homa (fire-sacrifice)

āhuti (oblations)

mantra (recitation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Properly performed rites—oblations offered with correct mantra and discipline—are portrayed as producing purity and auspicious signs (smokeless, rightward flames), reinforcing the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on dharma expressed through right action and ritual integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

During a major homa, Agni receives the mantra-accompanied offerings and flares up auspiciously, with flames moving in a clockwise/rightward manner and without smoke—signaling that the sacrifice is proceeding effectively and favorably.