Shloka 11
Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)
त॑ श्रुत्वा निनदं तस्य सैन्यास्तव वितत्रसु: । जीमूतस्थेव नदत: शक्राशनिसमस्वनम्
taṁ śrutvā ninadaṁ tasya sainyās tava vitatrasuḥ | jīmūtasthā iva nadataḥ śakrāśani-samasvanam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als sie jenes Brüllen vernahmen, gerieten deine Truppen in Panik. Es klang wie das Donnern regenbeladener Wolken im vollen Aufschrei—schrecklich im Klang, gleich dem Krachen von Indras Vajra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sound and reputation function as moral-psychological forces in war: a single overwhelming roar can break collective courage, showing that inner steadiness and discipline are as decisive as weapons.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that, upon hearing a mighty lion-like roar from the opposing side, the Kaurava troops were frightened; the sound is compared to the terrifying thunder of rain-clouds and to the crash of Indra’s thunderbolt.