Shloka 18
नक्षत्राण्यृतवश्चैव मासा: पक्षा: सवत्सरा: | वैनतेया: समुद्राश्च॒ कद्रुजा: पन्नगास्तथा
nakṣatrāṇy ṛtavaś caiva māsāḥ pakṣāḥ savatsarāḥ | vainateyāḥ samudrāś ca kadrujāḥ pannagās tathā ||
بھیشم نے کہا—“نکشتر اور رِتُوئیں، مہینے اور پکش، اور برسوں کا چکر؛ وِنَتا کا فرزند گرُڑ اور سمندر؛ اور کَدرو سے پیدا ہونے والے پَنّگ—یہ سب ہمیں سنبھالیں اور ہماری حفاظت کریں۔”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Reverent remembrance of the cosmic order—time divisions (seasons, months, fortnights, years) and primordial beings (Garuḍa, oceans, nāgas)—is presented as a dharmic act that aligns the mind with ṛta (order) and is sought as a source of protection and well-being.
Bhīṣma continues a long, structured enumeration of revered powers and beings. This verse specifically invokes celestial/time markers and major mythic entities (Garuḍa, oceans, serpents) as part of a protective recitation meant to safeguard the listener/reciter.