Shloka 17

नारायणीयमाख्यानम् (Nārāyaṇīyam Ākhyānam) — Nārada’s Return and Hymnic Consolidation

Devanagari script

तस्यां क्रीडन्त्यभिरतास्ते चैवाप्सरसां गणा:

Transliteration

tasyāṁ krīḍanty abhiratās te caivāpsarasāṁ gaṇāḥ

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവിടെ അപ്സരസ്സുകളുടെ ആ കൂട്ടങ്ങൾ കളിയിൽ ആസ്വദിച്ച്, സ്വന്തം ആനന്ദത്തിൽ പൂർണ്ണമായി ലീനരായി വിഹരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: in her/therein
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• क्रीडन्ति: they play/sport
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अभिरताः: delighted, engaged
• अभिरताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अप्सरसाम्: of the Apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• गणाः: groups, hosts
• गणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Apsarases

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse evokes the allure of celestial pleasure—Apsarases absorbed in play—often used in Śānti Parva’s instruction to contrast transient enjoyments with higher aims such as self-control, detachment, and liberation-oriented dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a particular realm (implied by context) where hosts of Apsarases sport and revel, painting a vivid scene of heavenly enjoyment as part of his broader didactic discourse.