Shloka 52
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा मौर्व्यास्तलनिष्पेषमुग्रं महाशब्दं वज्ननिष्पेषतुल्यम् | विधूयमानस्य महारणे मया स गाण्डिवस्य श्रोष्यति मन्दबुद्धि:
sañjaya uvāca | yadā maurvyāstala-niṣpeṣam ugraṁ mahāśabdaṁ vajra-niṣpeṣa-tulyam | vidhūyamānasya mahāraṇe mayā sa gāṇḍīvasya śroṣyati mandabuddhiḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Wenn ich in der großen Schlacht den Gāṇḍīva erschüttere und der wilde, donnernde Klang, der aus Reiben und schnappendem Spannen der Sehne entsteht—gleich dem Krachen eines Blitzes—widerhallt, wird jener von stumpfem Verstand ihn hören. In diesem Augenblick, da sich der Schrecken des Krieges verdichtet, wird der Klang von Arjunas Bogen selbst zur Mahnung des Dharma: Hochmut und ungerechter Entschluss verwandeln sich, wenn sie disziplinierter Tapferkeit begegnen, in Qual.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the sound of Gāṇḍīva as a symbol of disciplined power aligned with rightful resolve: when unjust pride meets steadfast martial duty, fear and inner torment arise. It highlights how moral imbalance (adharma) weakens courage even before weapons strike.
Sañjaya describes the impending battlefield moment when Arjuna’s bowstring, drawn and set vibrating, produces a terrifying roar like a thunderbolt. The image anticipates the psychological impact on the opposing side—especially the ‘dull-witted’ antagonist—upon hearing this omen-like war sound.