अध्याय १ — न्यग्रोधवनोपवेशनम् तथा द्रौणिनिश्चयः
Night at the Banyan and Drauṇi’s Resolve
विनर्दन्ति च पञ्चाला: क्ष्वेलन्ति च हसन्ति च । धमन्ति शड्खान् शतशो द्ृष्टा घ्नन्ति च दुन्दुभीन्
vinardanti ca pañcālāḥ kṣvelanti ca hasanti ca | dhamanti śaṅkhān śataśo dṛṣṭvā ghnanti ca dundubhīn ||
قال سَنجايا: «إن البانچالا يطلقون صرخاتٍ مدوّية؛ ويصفّرون ويضحكون أيضًا. ولمّا رأوا الحال نفخوا في الصدَف مئاتٍ وضربوا طبول الحرب.»
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how collective emotion in war expresses itself through noise—cries, laughter, conches, and drums—suggesting how quickly human groups can move into triumphalism or mockery, a mood that can cloud restraint and ethical judgment.
Sañjaya reports the Pāñcālas’ reaction: they shout, whistle, and laugh, then loudly sound conches and beat drums in large numbers, signaling heightened excitement and martial readiness in the unfolding events of the Sauptika Parva.