Shloka 3

Devanagari script

परस्परमिवात्यर्थ गर्जन्त: सततं दिवि । संवर्तितमिवाकाशं जलदैः सुमहाद्भुतै:,वे परस्पर अत्यन्त गर्जना करते हुए आकाशसे निरन्तर पानी बरसाते रहे। जोर-जोरसे गर्जने और लगातार असीम जलकी वर्षा करनेवाले अत्यन्त अद्भुत जलधरोंने सारे आकाशको घेर-सा लिया था। असंख्य धारारूप लहरोंसे युक्त वह व्योमसमुद्र मानो नृत्य-सा कर रहा था

Transliteration

parasparam ivātyartha garjantaḥ satataṃ divi | saṃvartitam ivākāśaṃ jaladaiḥ sumahādbhutaiḥ ||

Translation

The clouds, as if challenging one another, roared exceedingly and unceasingly in the sky. Those vast and wondrous rain-bearers seemed to wrap and churn the whole firmament, pouring down water without pause—so that the heavens themselves appeared like an ocean in motion, heaving with countless streaming waves. In the narrative frame, the image heightens awe (adbhuta) and signals a moment of overwhelming natural power that dwarfs human action, reminding listeners of the cosmic scale within which dharma and destiny unfold.

Word by Word

परस्परम्mutually, with one another

इवas if, like

अत्यर्थम्excessively, very much

गर्जन्तःroaring

सततम्constantly, continuously

दिविin the sky, in heaven

संवर्तितम्covered/rolled up, enveloped

इवas if, like

आकाशम्the sky

जलदैःby the clouds (water-givers)

सु-महा-अद्भुतैःby very greatly wonderful (ones)

Speaker

पितामह उवाच

Characters & Entities

प

पितामह (Pitāmaha, the Grandsire as narrator/speaker)

द

दिवि (the sky/heaven)

आ

आकाश (ākāśa, the firmament)

ज

जलद (jalada, rain-clouds)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily teaches through imagery: human affairs occur within a vast, overpowering cosmos. The relentless thunder and rain evoke awe and humility, suggesting that dharma and destiny are framed by forces far greater than individual will.

What is happening in the narrative?

Pitāmaha describes an extraordinary storm: clouds roar as if competing with each other, continuously filling and churning the sky and pouring heavy rain, making the heavens resemble a surging ocean.