Shloka 8

Sūrya-stava: Dhaumya’s Counsel and the Aṣṭaśata-nāma of Sūrya

Devanagari script

निषिक्तश्नन्द्रतेजोभि: स्वयोनौ निर्गते रवि: । ओषध्य: षड़सा मेध्यास्तदन्न॑ प्राणिनां भुवि,चन्द्रमाकी किरणोंसे अभिषिक्त हुआ सूर्य जब अपनी प्रकृतिमें स्थित हो जाता है, तब छः प्रकारके रसोंसे युक्त पवित्र ओषधियाँ उत्पन्न होती हैं। वही पृथ्वीमें प्राणियोंके लिये अन्न होता है

Transliteration

niṣiktaś candratejobhiḥ svayonau nirgato raviḥ | oṣadhyaḥ ṣaḍrasā medhyās tad annaṁ prāṇināṁ bhuvi ||

Translation

Wika ni Dhaumya: Kapag ang Araw, na nabasbasan ng liwanag ng Buwan, ay nagbalik sa kaniyang likás na kalagayan, sumisibol ang mga dalisay na halamang-gamot na taglay ang anim na lasa. Ang mga halamang iyon din ang nagiging pagkain ng mga nilalang sa lupa.

Word by Word

निषिक्तsprinkled/anointed

चन्द्रतेजोभिःby the moon’s radiances

स्वयोनौin its own source/nature

निर्गतेwhen (it has) gone forth/when it is set forth

रविःthe sun

ओषध्यःmedicinal plants/herbs

षड्रसाःhaving six tastes

मेध्याःpure/fit for sacrifice

तत्that

अन्नम्food

प्राणिनाम्of living beings/for creatures

भुविon earth

Speaker

धौग्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhāumya

Ravi (Sun)

Candra (Moon)

Oṣadhi (herbs/medicinal plants)

Bhūmi (Earth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that life is sustained by an ordered cosmos: celestial processes (Sun and Moon) support the growth of pure, nourishing herbs, which become food for beings. It highlights interdependence and the ethical implication of respecting and preserving the natural order that upholds all creatures.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhāumya explains a natural-cosmic sequence: the Sun, influenced by the Moon’s radiance and returning to his proper state, leads to the emergence of pure herbs endowed with six tastes; these herbs serve as food for living beings on earth.