Shloka 15

Devanagari script

व्यस्फारयद्‌ वै गाण्डीवं सुमहद्‌ भैरवारवम्‌

Transliteration

vyasphārayad vai gāṇḍīvaṃ sumahad bhairavāravam

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da spannte Arjuna den großen Bogen Gāṇḍīva, und ein gewaltiges, furchterregendes Dröhnen ertönte.

Word by Word

• व्यस्फारयत्: he stretched/expanded (twanged)
• व्यस्फारयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्फारय् (√स्फुर्/स्फार् caus.)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• गाण्डीवम्: the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सुमहत्: very great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत् (सु + महत्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भैरव-रवम्: a terrible roar/sound
• भैरव-रवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव + रव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Gāṇḍīva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how righteous resolve in a just cause is expressed through disciplined action: Arjuna’s controlled, purposeful display of strength becomes both a moral stance and a strategic act—encouraging one’s side while unsettling opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, Arjuna draws his bow Gāṇḍīva so powerfully that it emits a tremendous, terrifying sound, signaling readiness and intensifying the atmosphere of the ongoing Kurukṣetra combat.