Shloka 17
ध्रुवं प्रजजलितो घोरमपसपव्यं प्रवर्तते । रोहिणीं पीडयत्येवमुभी च शशिभास्करौ । चित्रास्वात्यन्तरे चैव विछित: परुषग्रह:,चित्रा और स्वातीके बीचमें स्थित हुआ क्रूर ग्रह राहु सदा वक्री होकर रोहिणी तथा चन्द्रमा और सूर्यको पीड़ा पहुँचाता है तथा अत्यन्त प्रज्वलित होकर ध्रुवकी बायीं ओर जा रहा है, जो घोर अनिष्टका सूचक है
dhruvaṁ prajajjalito ghoram apasapavyaṁ pravartate | rohiṇīṁ pīḍayaty evam ubhī ca śaśibhāskarau | citrāsvātyantare caiva vicchitaḥ paruṣagrahaḥ |
Vyāsa said: “A fiercely blazing, dreadful portent is surely unfolding: the fiery phenomenon moves to the left of Dhruva, signaling grave misfortune. In the same way, the harsh planet Rāhu, stationed between Citrā and Svātī and ever moving in a crooked course, torments Rohiṇī and afflicts both the Moon and the Sun.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames cosmic irregularities as moral and political warnings: when order is disturbed—symbolized by ominous celestial signs—leaders should recognize the gravity of impending harm and the ethical urgency to avert catastrophe where possible.
Vyāsa reports ominous astronomical portents: a blazing, dreadful phenomenon moves to the left of Dhruva, and Rāhu—positioned between the nakṣatras Citrā and Svātī—afflicts Rohiṇī and troubles both the Moon and the Sun, signaling impending disaster around the time of the great war.