Shloka 16

Yuga-Lakṣaṇa and Varṣa-Pramāṇa Inquiry (युगलक्षण–वर्षप्रमाण–प्रश्न)

Devanagari script

ततो मेघाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रभवन्ति च सर्वश: । ततः: परेण कौरव्य जलधारो महागिरि:

Transliteration

tato meghāḥ pravartante prabhavanti ca sarvaśaḥ | tataḥ pareṇa kauravya jaladhāro mahāgiriḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“随后云众开始运行，四方并起。再往前去，俱卢后裔啊，有一座大山名为持水（Jaladhāra）。”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रवर्तन्ते: arise, set in motion, begin
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (वृत्)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• प्रभवन्ति: become capable, prevail, are able
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√भू (भू)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: on all sides, everywhere
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (सर्व-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• परेण: after, beyond (by/with what is further)
• परेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कौरव्य: O descendant of Kuru
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जलधारः: Jaladhāra (lit. water-holder; name of a mountain)
• जलधारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलधार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महागिरिः: a great mountain
• महागिरिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागिरि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kauravya (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• meghāḥ (clouds)
• Jaladhāra (mountain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that vast and fearsome phenomena—like clouds that spread everywhere and pour rain—still arise and move within a larger cosmic order. This supports the Mahābhārata’s ethical vision that power and upheaval are not random; they are situated within a structured reality that invites humility and discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues describing a grand, otherworldly panorama, listing successive regions or features: first the arising and spreading of clouds, and then, beyond them, a great mountain named Jaladhāra. It functions as a guided tour through a vast cosmic/topographical sequence.