Shloka 3

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

श्यामं रुधिरपर्यन्तं बभूव परिवेषणम्।अलातचक्रप्रतिमं परिगृह्य दिवाकरम्।।।।

Transliteration

śyāmaṃ rudhira-paryantaṃ babhūva pariveṣaṇam |

alāta-cakra-pratimaṃ parigṛhya divākaram ||

Translation

സൂര്യനെ ചുറ്റി രക്തചുവന്ന അറ്റങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ ഇരുണ്ട പരിവേഷണം പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു; അത് ചുഴറ്റുന്ന അഗ്നിദണ്ഡം വരയ്ക്കുന്ന വലയത്തെപ്പോലെ, സൂര്യമണ്ഡലത്തെ തന്നെ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തതുപോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• श्यामम्: dark
• श्यामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); here agreeing with परिवेषणम् (Nom. sg.)

• रुधिरपर्यन्तम्: having a blood-red periphery
• रुधिरपर्यन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रुधिरं पर्यन्ते यस्य/रुधिरपर्यन्तम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बभूव: became / appeared
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परिवेषणम्: halo / surrounding ring
• परिवेषणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवेषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• अलातचक्रप्रतिमम्: like a firebrand-circle
• अलातचक्रप्रतिमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलात (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अलातस्य चक्रं इव प्रतिमा), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परिगृह्य: having encircled
• परिगृह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having surrounded/encircled’

• दिवाकरम्: the Sun
• दिवाकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

Context

Similarly Dusana proceeded with four - Mahakapali, Sthulaksha, Pramathi and Trisira - around him.

FAQs

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

Dharma is suggested through cosmic signaling: nature reflects moral imbalance, warning that adharma-driven violence draws inevitable correction.

What is the narrative situation?

Before the confrontation, ominous portents appear in the sky—an eerie halo around the Sun—foreshadowing calamity for the unrighteous.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness to signs and moral causality: the epic tradition treats omens as reminders to align actions with dharma.