Shloka 22
तस्य शब्दो महानासीत् परानभिमुखस्य वै । गरुडस्येव पतत:ः पन्नगार्थे यथा पुरा
tasya śabdo mahān āsīt parān-abhimukhasya vai | garuḍasyeva patataḥ pannagārthe yathā purā ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als er sich dem Feind zuwandte, erhob sich von seinem Wagen ein gewaltiges Dröhnen—wie das Brausen von Garuḍas Flügeln, als er einst herabstieß, um eine Schlange zu packen. Das Gleichnis steigert das Gefühl unwiderstehlichen Vorwärtsdrangs und räuberischer Gewissheit, das den Vormarsch des Kriegers im Kampf begleitet.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily poetic narration rather than direct moral instruction: it uses a powerful simile (Garuḍa swooping for a serpent) to convey the overwhelming force and inevitability of a warrior’s forward drive when he turns to confront foes—highlighting the Mahābhārata’s recurring reflection on how martial resolve can appear awe-inspiring even within a tragic war.
Sañjaya describes a combatant (implied from context) turning to face the enemy; at that moment the chariot produces a great, thunderous sound, compared to the beating wings of Garuḍa as he dives to seize a serpent.