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

Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang bundok na ito’y hindi na kumikislap gaya ng dati, sapagkat nawala ang umaalingawngaw na pagbigkas ng banal na kaalaman—ang himig ng Veda. Natabunan ng alikabok at dilim, wari’y tulad ng buwan na sinakmal ni Rahu—ang liwanag ay nagulo at natakpan. Bagaman ang tuktok na ito’y nararapat dalawin ng mga banal na pantas ng langit, kung wala ang tunog ng pag-awit ng Veda, tila nawalan ito ng karangalan, gaya ng tahanan ng mga taong-gubat na salat sa pagpapala.”

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.