Shloka 203
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
पार्षतं त्रासयामास महेन्द्रो नमुचिं यथा । शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले कृपाचार्यने बारंबार शंखध्वनि की और जैसे इन्द्रने नमुचिको डराया था, उसी प्रकार उन्होंने धृष्टद्युम्मको भयभीत कर दिया
pārṣataṃ trāsayāmāsa mahendro namuciṃ yathā |
قال سانجيا: «إن كريپاتشاريا، قاهرَ الأعداء، كان يكرّر نفخَ صدَفته الحربية، فألقى الرعب في قلب دْهريشتاديومنَ، ابنِ پْرِشَتَ، كما أرعب مهيندرا (إندرا) ناموتشي من قبل.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can be strategically induced in battle: strength is not only physical but also psychological, and the display of power (here, repeated conch-blasts) can weaken an adversary’s courage. It also uses a well-known mythic comparison (Indra vs. Namuci) to underscore the intensity of the intimidation.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛpācārya repeatedly sounded his conch and thereby frightened Dhṛṣṭadyumna, likening this to Indra terrifying the Asura Namuci. The moment depicts a surge of Kaurava-side aggression and morale-assertion amid the fighting.