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Shloka 7

Paurava-vaṃśa-kathana (Account of the Paurava Lineage) | महाभारत आदि पर्व अध्याय ८९

बस * 2 <5७७५१११००७९७ ५4.4५ |./ 2... ययातिका पतन अट्क उवाच कस्त्वं युवा वासवतुल्यरूप: स्वतेजसा दीप्यमानो यथाग्नि: । पतसस्‍्युदीर्णाम्बुधरान्धकारात्‌ खात्‌ खेचराणां प्रवरो यथार्क:

aṣṭaka uvāca | kastvaṃ yuvā vāsavatulya-rūpaḥ svatejasā dīpyamāno yathāgniḥ | patasy udīrṇāmbudharāndhakārāt khāt khecarāṇāṃ pravaro yathārkaḥ ||

अष्टक उवाच—कस्त्वं युवा वासवतुल्यरूपः स्वतेजसा दीप्यमानो यथाग्निः। पतसस्युदीर्णाम्बुधरान्धकारात् खात् खेचराणां प्रवरो यथार्कः॥

अष्टकःAṣṭaka (proper name)
अष्टकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअष्टक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid/spoke
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular
कःwho?
कः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
युवाyoung man
युवा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुवन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वासवतुल्यरूपःhaving a form like Indra
वासवतुल्यरूपः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवासव-तुल्य-रूप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्वतेजसाby (your) own splendor
स्वतेजसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्व-तेजस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
दीप्यमानःshining, blazing
दीप्यमानः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootदीप्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, शानच् (present participle, Ātmanepada sense)
यथाas/like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
अग्निःfire
अग्निः:
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पतसिyou fall/are falling
पतसि:
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
उदीर्णाम्बुधरान्धकारात्from the darkness of risen clouds
उदीर्णाम्बुधरान्धकारात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootउदीर्ण-अम्बुधर-अन्धकार
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
खात्from the sky
खात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Root
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
खेचराणाम्of the sky-goers (celestials/planets/birds)
खेचराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootखेचर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्रवरःthe foremost, best
प्रवरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रवर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas/like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
अर्कःthe sun
अर्कः:
TypeNoun
Rootअर्क
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

अट्क उवाच

अष्टक (Aṣṭaka)
वासव/इन्द्र (Vāsava/Indra)
अग्नि (Agni, fire)
अर्क/सूर्य (Arka/Sūrya, the sun)
ख (sky)
अम्बुधर (clouds)

Educational Q&A

Outer splendor and high status (even heaven-like brilliance) are not permanent; a fall can occur when the supporting merit is exhausted. The verse frames an ethical reflection: true security lies not in appearance or rank but in sustained dharma and the causes that uphold one’s condition.

Aṣṭaka sees a radiant young celestial-like figure falling from the sky, despite shining like the sun among sky-goers. Astonished by the contrast between the person’s brilliance and his downward fall, Aṣṭaka questions his identity and the reason for this reversal.