Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 3436

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

भयं विवेश पाण्डूंस्तु सवानिव ससोमकान्‌ | उस महामनस्वी वीरकी वायुतुल्य गदाके वेगको देखकर सोमकोंसहित समस्त पाण्डवोंके मनमें भय समा गया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhayaṁ viveśa pāṇḍūṁs tu savān iva sasomakān | tasya mahāmanasvī vīrasya vāyutulya-gadā-vegaṁ dṛṣṭvā somakān-sahita-samasta-pāṇḍavānāṁ manasi bhayaṁ samāviśat |

Translation

Sanjaya said: Fear entered the Pāṇḍavas—together with the Somakas—like a sudden overpowering force. Seeing the wind-like, rushing speed of that great-souled hero’s mace, dread spread through the minds of all the Pāṇḍavas along with the Somakas, as the battle’s violence made even the steadfast waver.

Word by Word

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विवेश: entered, pervaded
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डून्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तु: indeed, but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सवानिव: as if with (their) allies/companions
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सवानि + इव

• ससोमकान्: together with the Somakas
• ससोमकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Pandavas
• Somakas
• mace (gadā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overwhelming force and visible martial prowess can shake even seasoned warriors; ethical steadiness in war is tested not only by duty but by fear, and courage is shown by acting rightly despite inner trembling.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that, upon witnessing a great-souled hero’s mace moving with wind-like speed, fear spreads through the Pandava side, including their Somaka allies, indicating the opponent’s terrifying momentum in the battle.