Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ततो विस्फार्य नयने धनुज्यामवमृज्य च | तलशब्दं महत्‌ कृत्वा द्रोणस्तं समुपाद्रवत्‌,तब द्रोणाचार्यने आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर देखते हुए धनुषकी डोरी साफ कर महान्‌ टंकारघोष करके सिंहसेनपर आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

tato visphārya nayane dhanujyām avamṛjya ca | talaśabdaṁ mahat kṛtvā droṇas taṁ samupādravat ||

Translation

Da weitete Droṇa in grimmiger Konzentration die Augen, wischte die Sehne und machte sie bereit; und, einen mächtigen Bogenschnalzer ertönen lassend, stürmte er geradewegs auf ihn zu.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

विस्फार्यhaving widened (opened wide)

नयनेthe two eyes

धनुज्याम्the bowstring

अवमृज्यhaving wiped/cleaned

चand

तलशब्दम्a loud slapping/hand-clap sound

महत्great, loud

कृत्वाhaving made/produced

द्रोणःDrona

तम्him

समुपाद्रवत्ran up/charged at (attacked)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Droṇa

bow (dhanuḥ)

bowstring (jyā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior’s disciplined readiness and decisive action in battle: skill (preparing the bowstring), focused intent (fierce gaze), and commitment to one’s role under kṣatriya-dharma, even when that role operates within the morally fraught arena of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Droṇa preparing his bow—wiping the bowstring and producing a loud twang—then charging toward his opponent, signaling an imminent clash and Droṇa’s aggressive advance.