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Shloka 25

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

निरभश्रे विद्युतस्तीव्रा दिशश्व॒ रजसा5<वृता: । प्रादुरासन्‌ महोल्काश्न सनिर्घाता विशाम्पते

sañjaya uvāca | nirabhraśre vidyutas tīvrā diśaś ca rajasāvṛtāḥ | prādurāsan maholkāś ca sanirghātā viśāmpate prajānātha ||

Санджая сказал: «О владыка народа, защитник подданных — хотя небо было безоблачным, сверкали яростные молнии; все стороны света заволокло пылью; и с громовыми, словно удар молота-ваджры, раскатами явились и пали великие метеоры». Картина дана как зловещее нравственное знамение: сама природа будто протестует против грядущей бойни, предупреждая, что война, ведомая адхармой, ввергает мир в смуту.

निरभश्रेin a cloudless (sky)
निरभश्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरभ्र
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
विद्युतःlightnings
विद्युतः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविद्युत्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
तीव्राःfierce
तीव्राः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतीव्र
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
दिशःdirections (quarters)
दिशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
रजसाwith dust
रजसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरजस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
आवृताःcovered
आवृताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआ-वृ (वृञ्)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
प्रादुरासन्appeared / came forth
प्रादुरासन्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रादुर् + अस्
FormImperfect (लङ्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
महोत्काःgreat meteors
महोत्काः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहत् + उल्का
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
स-निर्घाताःwith thunderous crashes
स-निर्घाताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस + निर्घात
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
विशाम्पतेO lord of the people
विशाम्पते:
TypeNoun
Rootविशाम् + पति
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्रजानाथO protector of subjects
प्रजानाथ:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजाः + नाथ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by addresses viśāmpati, prajānātha)
L
lightning (vidyut)
D
dust (rajas)
D
directions/quarters (diśaḥ)
M
meteors/fireballs (maholkāḥ)
T
thunderous crash (nirghāta)

Educational Q&A

The verse presents unnatural portents—lightning without clouds, dust-filled horizons, falling meteors—as a moral warning: when rulers and warriors proceed toward destructive conflict, the world’s order (dharma) is felt to be disturbed, and nature mirrors that imbalance.

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra a series of terrifying battlefield omens: despite a clear sky, lightning flashes; dust obscures all directions; and large meteors fall with thunderous sounds—signaling impending calamity as the war intensifies.