Shloka 15

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

उल्काश्चापि सनिर्घाता निपेतुर्घोरदर्शनाः।।।।प्रचचाल मही सर्वा सशैलवनकानना।

Transliteration

ulkāś cāpi sanirghātā nipetur ghoradarśanāḥ |

pracacāla mahī sarvā saśailavanakānanā || 3.23.15 ||

Translation

伴着雷霆轰鸣的流星坠落，景象骇人；大地尽皆震动，连同群山、林薮与森林一齐摇撼。

Word by Word

• उल्काः: meteors
• उल्काः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), emphasis/addition

• सनिर्घाताः: accompanied by thunder
• सनिर्घाताः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + निर्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'उल्काः' (with thunder)

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• घोरदर्शनाः: dreadful-looking
• घोरदर्शनाः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'उल्काः'

• प्रचचाल: trembled; shook
• प्रचचाल: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + चल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मही: earth
• मही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वा: entire
• सर्वा: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'मही'

• सशैलवनकानना: with mountains, woods, and forests
• सशैलवनकानना: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + शैल + वन + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'मही'; शैल-वन-कानन (mountains, woods, forests) as copulative set with 'स' (with)

Context

Dreadful to watch were the thunderstorms and the meteors that dropped down from the sky. The earth trembled all over with mountains, groves and forests.

Characters & Entities

• meteors (ulkā)
• earth (mahī)
• mountains
• forests

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse frames adharma as destabilizing: when violence is pursued unjustly, stability—symbolized by the earth—shudders, urging a return to righteous restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Heavenly and earthly disturbances erupt as the army advances—meteors fall and the ground quakes—foreshadowing defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast righteousness (dhṛti) is implied: true steadiness comes from dharma, not from aggressive force.