Shloka 11

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

कबन्धः परिघाभासो दृश्यते भास्करान्तिके।।।।जग्राह सूर्यं स्वर्भानुरपर्वणि महाग्रहः।प्रवाति मारुतश्शीघ्रं निष्प्रभोऽभूद्दिवाकरः।।।।

Transliteration

kabandhaḥ parighābhāso dṛśyate bhāskarāntike |

jagrāha sūryaṃ svarbhānur aparvaṇi mahāgrahaḥ |

pravāti mārutaḥ śīghraṃ niṣprabho ’bhūd divākaraḥ || 3.23.11 ||

Translation

ഭാസ്കരന്റെ സമീപത്ത് ഇരുമ്പുദണ്ഡംപോലെ തിളങ്ങുന്ന കേതു ദൃശ്യമായി; പർവദിനമല്ലാതിരുന്നിട്ടും മഹാഗ്രഹമായ സ്വർഭാനു (രാഹു) സൂര്യനെ ഗ്രഹണത്തിൽ പിടിച്ചു. കാറ്റ് വേഗത്തിൽ വീശി, ദിവാകരൻ നിർപ്രഭനായി തോന്നി.

Word by Word

कबन्धःKetu/comet-like apparition (kabandha)

परिघाभासःappearing like an iron bar

दृश्यतेis seen

भास्करान्तिकेnear the Sun

जग्राहseized / eclipsed

सूर्यम्the Sun

स्वर्भानुःSvarbhanu (Rahu)

अपर्वणिon a non-parvan day

महाग्रहःthe great planet/seizer

प्रवातिblows

मारुतःwind

शीघ्रम्swiftly

निष्प्रभःlusterless

अभूत्became

दिवाकरःthe Sun

Context

The planet Ketu appeared like an iron beam near the Sun. Although it was not the fullmoon or newmoon day, Rahu eclipsed the Sun. Wind blew hard and the Sun was lustreless.

Characters & Entities

Ketu (Kabandha)

Rāhu (Svarbhānu)

Sūrya (Sun)

wind (Māruta)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The epic links moral disorder with cosmic unease: when adharma rises, the world seems to mirror it through unsettling signs, urging a return to righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Celestial anomalies—Ketu’s appearance and an untimely eclipse—occur as forewarnings of the impending destruction of Khara’s unrighteous campaign.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for ṛta/dharma (cosmic and moral order): recognizing that actions against dharma invite ruin.