Shloka 8
हिरण्यपुरवर्णनम्
Description of Hiraṇyapura and the Nivātakavacas
अत्र नानाविधाकारास्तिमयो नैकरूपिण: । अप्सु सोमप्रभां पीत्वा वसन्ति जलचारिण:,नाना प्रकारकी आकृति तथा भाँति-भाँतिके रूपवाले जलचारी तिमि (ह्लेल) मत्स्य चन्द्रमाकी किरणोंका पान करते हुए यहाँ जलमें निवास करते हैं
atra nānāvidhākārās timayo naikarūpiṇaḥ | apsu somaprabhāṃ pītvā vasanti jalacāriṇaḥ ||
Di sini berdiam para penghuni air—timi dan para pengembara samudra lainnya—beraneka wujud dan berubah-ubah rupa. Mereka meneguk sinar Soma, cahaya bulan di atas air, dan tinggal dalam kedalaman itu.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse evokes a vision of the natural-cosmic order: diverse beings live according to their own natures, sustained by subtle nourishment (moonlight on water). It underscores plurality in creation and the quiet harmony of beings abiding in their proper domain.
Nārada is describing a wondrous aquatic realm, noting that many kinds of water-dwelling creatures—timis among them—reside there, figuratively ‘drinking’ the moon’s radiance reflected upon the waters.