Shloka 18

Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)

Devanagari script

यदि द्वादशवर्षाणि न वर्षेष्यति वासव:

Transliteration

yadi dvādaśavarṣāṇi na varṣeṣyati vāsavaḥ |

Translation

जर वासव (इंद्र) बारा वर्षे पाऊस पाडणार नाही…

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• द्वादशवर्षाणि: twelve years (as a duration)
• द्वादशवर्षाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशवर्ष
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वर्षेष्यति: will rain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: simple future (luṭ), 3rd, singular

• वासवः: Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Vāsava (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line foregrounds dependence of social welfare on the right functioning of cosmic and divine order—rain as the basis of agriculture and life. It sets up an ethical reflection: rulers and communities must anticipate scarcity, uphold dharma, and act responsibly when nature (or the gods) withholds support.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces a conditional scenario: a prolonged drought lasting twelve years because Indra does not send rain. The verse functions as the opening of a larger statement or counsel about the consequences of drought and the appropriate response.