Shloka 13

Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मघोषैर्विरहित: पर्वतो5यं न शोभते । रजसा तमसा चैव सोम: सोपप्लवो यथा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | brahmaghoṣair virahitaḥ parvato ’yaṃ na śobhate | rajasā tamasā caiva somaḥ sopaplavo yathā |

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—“ਬ੍ਰਹਮਘੋਸ਼ ਤੋਂ ਵੰਝਿਆ ਇਹ ਪਹਾੜ ਹੁਣ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਸ਼ੋਭਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ। ਰਜ ਅਤੇ ਤਮ ਨਾਲ ਢੱਕਿਆ ਇਹ ਰਾਹੂ-ਗ੍ਰਸਤ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ਵਾਂਗ, ਵਿਗੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਕਾਂਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਦਿੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ। ਦੇਵਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਉਣ-ਜਾਣ ਯੋਗ ਇਹ ਸ਼ੈਲ-ਸ਼ਿਖਰ ਵੀ ਵੇਦਧੁਨੀ ਬਿਨਾ ਭੀਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਵਾਂਗ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਹੀਨ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ।”

Word by Word

• {'brahma-ghoṣa': 'the sacred sound/chant of Brahman

• here, Vedic recitation and holy utterance', 'virahitaḥ': 'deprived of

• separated from', 'parvataḥ': 'mountain', 'ayam': 'this', 'na śobhate': 'does not shine

• does not appear beautiful', 'rajasā': 'by dust

• also by the guṇa ‘rajas’ (passion/activity)', 'tamasā': 'by darkness

• also by the guṇa ‘tamas’ (inertia/obscuration)', 'ca eva': 'and indeed', 'somaḥ': 'the moon', 'sopaplavaḥ': 'with disturbance/affliction

• eclipsed, troubled', 'yathā': 'as

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mountain (parvata)
• Soma (the Moon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that sacred sound—especially Vedic recitation and disciplined spiritual practice—sustains the auspiciousness and ‘radiance’ of a place and community. When such dharmic sound and conduct disappear, rajas and tamas (restlessness and obscuration) dominate, and even a naturally splendid setting appears spiritually diminished.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is describing a mountain/peak that once felt sanctified by the presence of holy recitations. Now, lacking those brahmaghoṣas, it seems dull and eclipsed—compared to the moon under affliction—signaling a perceived decline in sacred activity and the resulting loss of spiritual luster.