Shloka 16

Devanagari script

एवं बहुविधैलोंकैर्धर्मद्वारैरनावृतै: । ममापि मतिराविग्ना मेघलेखेव वायुना

Transliteration

evaṁ bahuvidhair lokair dharmadvārair anāvṛtaiḥ | mamāpi matir āvignā meghalekheva vāyunā ||

Translation

ଏପରି ଲୋକରେ ଧର୍ମର ଅନେକ ଓ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଦ୍ୱାର ଖୋଲା ଅଛି; ତେଣୁ ମୋର ବୁଦ୍ଧି ମଧ୍ୟ ବାୟୁରେ ଚାଳିତ ମେଘରେଖା ପରି ଉଦ୍ବିଗ୍ନ ଓ ଚଞ୍ଚଳ ହୋଇଉଠିଛି।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• बहुविधैः: by many kinds of
• बहुविधैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• लोकैः: by/among the worlds (people)
• लोकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• धर्मद्वारैः: by the doors/gates of dharma
• धर्मद्वारैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मद्वार
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अनावृतैः: uncovered, open
• अनावृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनावृत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मतिः: mind, understanding
• मतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• आविग्ना: agitated, disturbed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविग्न
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मेघलेखा: a streak/mass of clouds
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघलेखा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• वायुना: by the wind
• वायुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (speaker)
• लोक (the world/people)
• धर्मद्वार (doors/gateways of dharma)
• वायु (wind)
• मेघलेखा (streak of cloud)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When dharma appears as multiple legitimate options, mere availability of ‘many doors’ does not guarantee clarity; it can unsettle the mind. The verse highlights the need for deeper discernment (viveka)—weighing context, intention, and consequences—rather than assuming that plurality of norms automatically yields certainty.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brāhmaṇa speaker reflects on the world’s many open avenues of dharma and admits personal agitation. Using the image of a cloud-streak blown by wind, he conveys how competing ethical routes and teachings have made his judgment restless and unstable.