Mahabharata 3.183.12 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 183, Shloka 12

Vainya-Aśvamedhe Atri–Gautama–Sanatkumāra-Nirṇaya

Vainya’s Sacrifice and the Settlement of a Dharmic Dispute

Devanagari script

दृश्यन्ते शान्तरजस: क्षपा जलदशीतला: । ग्रहनक्षत्रसड्घैश्व॒ सोमेन च विराजिता:

Transliteration

dṛśyante śānta-rajasaḥ kṣapā jalada-śītalāḥ | graha-nakṣatra-saṅghaiś ca somena ca virājitāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Malam-malam tampak jernih, bebas daripada debu, sejuk seperti awan pembawa hujan. Ia dihiasi oleh gugusan planet dan rasi bintang, serta diserikan oleh Sang Bulan.

Word by Word

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen, appear
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• शान्तरजसः: dustless, with settled dust (clear)
• शान्तरजसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्तरजस्
• Form: Stri, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• क्षपाः: nights
• क्षपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपा
• Form: Stri, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• जलदशीतलाः: cool like clouds
• जलदशीतलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलद-शीतल
• Form: Stri, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• ग्रह: planet
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह
• Form: Pum

• नक्षत्र: star/asterism
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र
• Form: Napum

• सङ्घैः: by groups, by clusters
• सङ्घैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्घ
• Form: Pum, Tritiya, Bahuvacana

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

• सोमेन: by the moon
• सोमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Pum, Tritiya, Eka

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

• विराजिताः: adorned, made splendid
• विराजिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-राज्
• Form: kta, Stri, Prathama, Bahuvacana

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Soma (the Moon)
• grahas (planets)
• nakṣatras (constellations)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a tranquil, purified natural setting—dustless, cool nights under orderly celestial lights—suggesting that harmony in the outer world can mirror or encourage inner composure and auspiciousness during arduous journeys.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the environment: the nights during the forest narrative are clear and cool, illuminated and beautified by the Moon along with planets and constellations, establishing a serene atmosphere around the events.