Shloka 583

नद्यश्न सुमहावेगा: प्रतिस्रोतोवहा भवन्‌ । नृपश्रेष्ठी तालाबों और कूपोंमें रक्तका उफान आने लगा और महान्‌ वेगशालिनी नदियाँ उलटी अपने उद्गमकी ओर बहने लगीं

nadyas tu sumahāvegāḥ pratisrotovahā bhavan |

नद्यश्च सुमहावेगाः प्रतिस्रोतोवहा अभवन् । तडागकूपेषु च रक्तमुद्वेलं समपद्यत ॥

नद्यःrivers
नद्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनदी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
सुमहा-वेगाःof very great speed/force
सुमहा-वेगाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुमहावेग
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
प्रतिस्रोतः-वहाःflowing against the current
प्रतिस्रोतः-वहाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतिस्रोतवह
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
भवन्became / were
भवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyu-deva
R
rivers
P
ponds
W
wells
B
blood

Educational Q&A

When adharma intensifies—especially through mass violence—its effects are portrayed as cosmic: the natural order itself seems to invert. The verse uses ominous signs to underscore ethical collapse and the inevitability of consequence.

Vāyu-deva reports terrifying portents: rivers reverse their flow and water sources appear to surge with blood. These are presented as war-omens indicating imminent catastrophe and the world’s disturbance during the Kurukṣetra conflict.