Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 19

काकोपमोपदेशः

The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa

तलयोश्व तथा शब्दान्‌ धनुषश्न महाहवे | शड्खशब्दवरांश्वैव चक्रतुस्तौ नरेश्वरी,राजन! तब वे दोनों नरेश बारंबार सिंहनाद करते हुए उस महासमरमें तालियाँ बजाने, धनुषकी टंकार करने और उत्तम शंखनाद फैलाने लगे

tālayoś ca tathā śabdān dhanuṣaś ca mahāhave | śaṅkhaśabdavarāṃś caiva cakratuḥ tau nareśvarī, rājan |

Sañjaya sprach: O König, in jener großen Schlacht brüllten die beiden königlichen Krieger immer wieder wie Löwen, klatschten in die Hände, ließen ihre Bögen schnarren und stießen die erlesensten Muschelhornstöße aus—sie verkündeten öffentlich ihren Entschluss und forderten den Feind heraus, während der Kampf sich zuspitzte.

तलयोःof (their) palms / of clapping
तलयोः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतल
FormNeuter, Genitive, Dual
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अश्वhorses
अश्व:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तथाalso / likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
शब्दान्sounds
शब्दान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
धनुषःof the bow
धनुषः:
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाहवेin the great battle
महाहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहव
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
शङ्खof the conch
शङ्ख:
TypeNoun
Rootशङ्ख
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
शब्दsound
शब्द:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वरान्excellent / best
वरान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed / just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
चक्रतुःthey did / they made
चक्रतुः:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
नरेश्वरौthe two kings
नरेश्वरौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनरेश्वर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
T
two kings/royal warriors (tau nareśvarī)
B
bow (dhanuṣ)
C
conch (śaṅkha)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the martial code (kṣātra-dharma) of openly declaring intent in battle: through lion-roars, bow-twangs, and conch-blasts, warriors signal courage, readiness, and a public challenge rather than covert aggression.

Sañjaya describes two royal combatants in the midst of a major engagement. They repeatedly make loud battle-signals—clapping, twanging their bows, and blowing conches—heightening the atmosphere and announcing their presence and determination to fight.