Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 4

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

उल्कापाता दिशां दाहो भूमिकम्पस्तथैव च । प्रादुर्भूत: क्षणे तस्मिंस्तदद्भुतमिवा भवत्‌,उसी क्षण उल्काएँ टूटकर गिरने लगीं। दिशाओंमें दाह होने लगा और धरती डोलने लगी। यह सब आश्वर्यकी-सी घटना घटित हुई

ulkāpātā diśāṃ dāho bhūmikampas tathaiva ca | prādurbhūtaḥ kṣaṇe tasmiṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അന്നേ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ ഉൽക്കകൾ പതിച്ചു; ദിക്കുകൾ ദഹിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി; ഭൂമി കുലുങ്ങി. എല്ലാം ഒരുനിമിഷത്തിൽ ഉദ്ഭവിച്ച് അത്ഭുതലക്ഷണമായി പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു.

उल्कापाताःmeteor-falls
उल्कापाताः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउल्कापात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
दिशाम्of the directions
दिशाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
दाहःburning, conflagration
दाहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदाह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भूमिकम्पःearthquake
भूमिकम्पः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभूमिकम्प
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तथाthus, likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
प्रादुर्भूतःhaving appeared, manifested
प्रादुर्भूतः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रादुर्भू
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
क्षणेin a moment
क्षणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
तस्मिन्in that
तस्मिन्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अद्भुतम्wonderful, astonishing
अद्भुतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअद्भुत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इवas if, like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अभवत्was, became
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
M
meteors (ulkā)
T
the quarters/directions (diśaḥ)
E
earth (bhūmi)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames sudden cosmic disturbances—meteors, blazing quarters, and an earthquake—as meaningful portents. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical world, such signs remind rulers and listeners that human conduct (dharma/adharma) is mirrored by disorder or harmony in the wider cosmos, urging vigilance, restraint, and reflection on right action.

Bhīṣma reports that, in a single instant, extraordinary phenomena appeared: meteors fell, the directions seemed to burn, and the earth shook. He presents these as an uncanny, wonder-like event—an omen marking a significant turn in the surrounding discourse and events.