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Shloka 16

मेरोर्दिग्वर्णनम् / Digvarṇana of Meru: Uttara-Kuru, Bhadrāśva, and Jambūdvīpa Motifs

अष्टचक्रं हि तद्‌ यान॑ भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम्‌ | अग्निवर्ण महातेजो जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्‌,क्षीरसागरके उत्तर तटपर भगवान्‌ विष्णु निवास करते हैं, वे वहाँ सुवर्णमय रथपर विराजमान हैं। उस रथमें आठ पहिये लगे हैं। उसका वेग मनके समान है। वह समस्त भूतोंसे युक्त, अग्निके समान कान्तिमान्‌ू, परम तेजस्वी तथा जाम्बूनद नामक सुवर्णसे विभूषित है

aṣṭacakraṃ hi tad yānaṃ bhūtayuktaṃ manojavam | agnivarṇaṃ mahātejo jāmbūnadavibhūṣitam ||

サンジャヤは言った。「その天の戦車はまことに八輪を備え、妙なる存在に牽かれて、思念の速さで進む。火の色に輝き、きわめて光彩に満ち、ジャンブーナダの黄金で飾られている。」

अष्टचक्रम्having eight wheels
अष्टचक्रम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टचक्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
यानम्vehicle/chariot
यानम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
भूतयुक्तम्yoked with beings/elements
भूतयुक्तम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootभूतयुक्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मनोजवम्swift as the mind
मनोजवम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमनोजव
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अग्निवर्णम्fire-colored
अग्निवर्णम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअग्निवर्ण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
महातेजःof great splendor
महातेजः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहातेजस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्adorned with Jāmbūnada-gold
जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootजाम्बूनदविभूषित
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
chariot (yāna/ratha)
E
eight wheels (aṣṭacakra)
B
beings (bhūta)
F
fire (agni)
J
Jāmbūnada gold (jāmbūnada)

Educational Q&A

The verse emphasizes the extraordinary, almost superhuman scale of the forces and instruments present in the war narrative: speed, brilliance, and divine-like craftsmanship. Ethically, such descriptions heighten the sense that power and splendor are transient and must be governed by dharma rather than mere fascination with might.

Sañjaya is describing a magnificent chariot—eight-wheeled, thought-swift, fire-bright, and gold-adorned—highlighting the awe-inspiring martial and celestial imagery surrounding the events of Bhīṣma Parva.