Shloka 16

Devanagari script

धरो ध्रुवश्च सोमश्न सावित्रो5थानिलोडनल:

Transliteration

dharo dhruvaś ca somaś ca sāvitrō ’thānilo ’nalaḥ

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “(Dia ialah) Dhara dan Dhruva; Soma dan Sāvitra; serta Anila dan Anala.”

Word by Word

• धरः: the bearer/supporter
• धरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ध्रुवः: the fixed/steadfast one
• ध्रुवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• सोमश्नः: Soma-eater (one who partakes of Soma)
• सोमश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सावित्रः: pertaining to Savitṛ (solar)
• सावित्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सावित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अथ: then/also/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अनिलः: wind (Anila)
• अनिलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उदनलः: submarine fire / fire in the waters (Vadavagni)
• उदनलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदनल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Dhara
• Dhruva
• Soma
• Savitṛ (Sāvitra)
• Anila (Wind)
• Anala (Fire/Agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the Divine can be approached through many epithets that reflect universal functions—support (Dhara), steadfastness (Dhruva), nourishment and cool radiance (Soma), solar inspiration (Sāvitra), vital breath (Anila), and purifying transformation (Anala). Remembering these names becomes a way to align one’s mind with dharma and cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is reciting a sequence of sacred names/attributes, presenting a litany of divine designations. The passage functions as devotional instruction: by hearing and reflecting on these names, the listener is guided toward reverence, ethical steadiness, and spiritual focus.