Shloka 19

Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions

Devanagari script

ततो देवगणाः: क्रुद्धा: सर्वतः शरवृष्टिभि: । अश्मवर्षमपोहन्त वृत्रप्रेरितमाहवे

Transliteration

tato devagaṇāḥ kruddhāḥ sarvataḥ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ | aśmavarṣam apohanta vṛtrapreritam āhave ||

Translation

见此情形，诸天军众大怒；战阵之中，他们从四面八方倾下箭雨，击退并消弭了在弗栗多驱使下掷来的石雨——显示出以纪律之力对抗毁灭性的侵袭，从而在战争中重建秩序。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• देवगणाः: the hosts of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवगण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्रुद्धाः: angered
• क्रुद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वतः: from all sides, everywhere
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• शरवृष्टिभिः: with showers of arrows
• शरवृष्टिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवृष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्मवर्षम्: the rain/shower of stones
• अश्मवर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपोहन्त: they warded off, removed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-ऊह्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वृत्रप्रेरितम्: impelled/caused by Vṛtra
• वृत्रप्रेरितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्रप्रेरित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Devagaṇa (the gods)
• Vṛtra
• Śara (arrows)
• Aśman (stones)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When destructive force is unleashed in conflict, dharmic resistance responds with disciplined, proportionate countermeasures aimed at stopping harm and re-establishing order rather than indulging in chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vṛtra causes a barrage of stones in battle; the gods become enraged and counter it by firing arrows from all directions, thereby dispersing and neutralizing the stone-shower.