Shloka 20
Udyoga Parva 142: Vidura’s warning to Kuntī and Kuntī’s resolve to meet Karṇa
Gaṅgātīra encounter begins
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैन्येषु भेरीणां नास्ति नि:ःस्वन: । अनाहता: पाण्डवानां नदन्ति पटहा: किल,“दुर्योधनकी सेनाओंमें बजानेपर भी भेरियोंके शब्द प्रकट नहीं होते हैं और पाण्डवोंके डंके बिना बजाये ही बज उठते हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainyeṣu bherīṇāṃ nāsti niḥsvanaḥ |
anāhatāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ nadanti paṭahāḥ kila |
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—ধৃতৰাষ্ট্ৰপুত্ৰৰ সেনাত ভেৰী বজালেও ধ্বনি উঠা নাই; কিন্তু পাণ্ডৱসকলৰ পটহ যেন অনাহত অৱস্থাতেই গর্জি উঠে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses battlefield omens to suggest that adharma weakens even outward power: when a cause is unjust, signs of vitality and auspiciousness fail, while the righteous side is strengthened by spontaneous confidence and favorable portents.
Sañjaya reports an ominous contrast at the time of mobilization: the Kaurava drums produce no sound even when struck, whereas the Pāṇḍava drums thunder without being struck—an indication of differing fortune and morale before the impending war.