Shloka 12

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

Devanagari script

ततो मेघकुलान्यङ्ग चित्र वर्णान्यनेकश: । शतं वर्षाणि वर्षन्ति नदन्ति रभसस्वनै: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tato megha-kulāny aṅga citra varṇāny anekaśaḥ śataṁ varṣāṇi varṣanti nadanti rabhasa-svanaiḥ

Translation

ఆ తరువాత, ఓ రాజా, అనేక వర్ణాల మేఘసమూహాలు కూడి, భయంకరమైన గర్జనతో నినదిస్తూ వంద సంవత్సరాలు వరదలా వర్షాన్ని కురిపిస్తాయి.

Synonyms

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• मेघ-कुलानि: masses of clouds
• मेघ-कुलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/सम्बन्धः: 'मेघानां कुलानि' = 'masses/groups of clouds'

• अङ्ग: O dear (addressing)
• अङ्ग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अङ्ग (अव्यय/सम्बोधन)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle), संबोधनार्थे: 'O dear/indeed'

• चित्र-वर्णानि: variegated-colored
• चित्र-वर्णानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'चित्राणि वर्णानि' = 'variegated in color'

• अनेकशः: in many ways; profusely
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb): 'in many ways/abundantly'

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• वर्षन्ति: they rain
• वर्षन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• नदन्ति: they roar
• नदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रभस-स्वनैः: with violent sounds
• रभस-स्वनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रभस (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'रभसः स्वनः' = 'violent sounds'

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pralaya (universal dissolution)?

This verse describes the onset of dissolution as immense, multicolored cloud-masses gather and rain continuously for a hundred years, accompanied by terrifying thunder—signaling nature’s overwhelming withdrawal before cosmic dissolution.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these catastrophic rains to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is narrating the stages of pralaya in Canto 12 to show the impermanence of the material world and to direct Parīkṣit’s mind toward the eternal refuge—Bhagavān and bhakti.

What is a practical lesson from this verse for modern life?

Even the mightiest structures of the world are temporary; remembering this helps one reduce attachment, prioritize spiritual practice, and seek lasting shelter in devotion to the Lord.