Shloka 19

Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication

Devanagari script

रासभारुणसंकाशा धनुष्मन्त: सविद्युतः । आवृत्य गगन मेघा मुमुचुर्मासशोणितम्‌

Transliteration

rāsabhāruṇasaṅkāśā dhanuṣmantaḥ savidyutaḥ | āvṛtya gaganaṃ meghā mumucur māsaśoṇitam ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଗଧାର ଛାୟା ପରି ଗାଢ଼ ରଙ୍ଗ ଓ ଅରୁଣ ଲାଲିମା ମିଶିଥିବା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣର, ଧନୁଷାକାର ରେଖା ଧାରଣ କରିଥିବା ଓ ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ୍‌ ଝଲକରେ ଚମକୁଥିବା ମେଘମାନେ ଆକାଶକୁ ଆବୃତ କରି ମାଂସ ଓ ରକ୍ତର ବର୍ଷା କଲେ। ଏହା ପ୍ରକୃତିକ୍ରମ ଭଙ୍ଗ ଓ ବିନାଶର ଭୟଙ୍କର ଅପଶକୁନ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• रासभारुणसंकाशाः: having the appearance of (a color like) rāsā-bhāruṇa (a mixed reddish hue)
• रासभारुणसंकाशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रास-भारुण-संकाश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धनुष्मन्तः: having a rainbow (bow)
• धनुष्मन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुष्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सविद्युतः: with lightning
• सविद्युतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-विद्युत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आवृत्य: having covered / enveloping
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ (वृणोति/वृणुते)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मुमुचुः: they released / poured forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मासशोणितम्: flesh and blood
• मासशोणितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास-शोणित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• meghāḥ (clouds)
• gaganam (sky)
• vidyut (lightning)
• dhanuḥ (bow/rainbow-like arc)
• māṃsa (flesh)
• śoṇita (blood)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a terrifying portent—blood-and-flesh rain and a sky overwhelmed by ominous clouds—to suggest that when violence and adharma intensify, even nature appears to revolt, warning humans of the ethical consequences of disorder and cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a dreadful atmospheric phenomenon: clouds cover the sky, lightning flashes, bow-like arcs appear, and the clouds pour down flesh and blood—an inauspicious sign indicating impending calamity or the aftermath of grievous wrongdoing.