Shloka 9

सूर्यानुगमनवृत्तान्तः

The Account of Following the Sun

Devanagari script

हिमवांश्चैव विन्ध्यश्च मेरुश्च सुमहान्नगः।भूतले सम्प्रकाशन्ते नागा इव जलाशये।।।।

Transliteration

himavāṃś caiva vindhyaś ca meruś ca sumahān nagaḥ |

bhūtale samprakāśante nāgā iva jalāśaye ||

Translation

喜马梵、温陀与巍峨的须弥山在大地之面熠熠生辉，宛如巨象立于水泽之中。

Word by Word

• हिमवान्: Himālaya
• हिमवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed/even
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle: indeed/even)

• विन्ध्यः: Vindhya (mountain)
• विन्ध्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• मेरुः: Meru (mountain)
• मेरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• सुमहान्: very great
• सुमहान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular) — नगः इति विशेषणम्

• नगः: mountain
• नगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• भूतले: on the earth’s surface
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: भूः + तल (earth-surface)

• सम्प्रकाशन्ते: shine forth/appear
• सम्प्रकाशन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), आत्मनेपद

• नागाः: elephants
• नागाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक

• जलाशये: in a lake/pond
• जलाशये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलाशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: जलस्य आशयः (reservoir of water)

Context

'The mountains of the earth, Himavan and Vindhya and the great Meru looked like huge elephants in a huge pond.

Characters & Entities

• Himavān (Himalaya)
• Vindhya
• Meru

FAQs

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

Dharma is suggested through reverence for the world’s sacred geography—recognizing stability (mountains) as a symbol of steadfastness and order.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti continues his aerial description, naming major mountains and likening them to elephants in water.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Cultural memory and truthfulness—Sampāti’s naming of landmarks reflects learned awareness and reliable narration.