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Shloka 23

द्रोण-पार्थ-युद्धम्

Droṇa–Pārtha Strategic Engagement

युद्धमें बाणोंकी मार खाकर कौरवसैनिक धराशायी होते जा रहे थे, तो भी उनका मन वहाँसे भागनेको नहीं होता था। वे मन-ही-मन अर्जुनकी फुर्तीकी सराहना करते थे ।। ततः शड्खं प्रदध्मौ स द्विषतां लोमहर्षणम्‌ । विस्फार्य च धनु:श्रेष्ठ ध्वजे भूतान्यचोदयत्‌,तदनन्तर पार्थने अपना शंख बजाया, जो शत्रुओंके रोंगटे खड़े कर देनेवाला था। फिर उन्होंने अपने श्रेष्ठ धनुषकी टंकार करके ध्वजापर बैठे हुए भूतोंको सिंहनाद करनेकी प्रेरणा दी

tataḥ śaṅkhaṃ pradadhmau sa dviṣatāṃ lomaharṣaṇam | visphārya ca dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ dhvaje bhūtāny acodayat ||

Obwohl die Kaurava-Soldaten im Kampf von Pfeilen getroffen wurden und einer nach dem anderen zu Boden sank, neigte sich ihr Sinn nicht zur Flucht. Im Stillen priesen sie Arjunas Gewandtheit. Da blies Pārtha sein Muschelhorn, ein Stoß, der den Feinden das Haar zu Berge stehen ließ. Dann ließ er die Sehne seines vortrefflichen Bogens dröhnen und rief gleichsam die Geister auf seinem Banner zum Löwenruf an — eine Tat, die den Mut der Seinen stärkte und Schrecken in die Reihen der Gegner trug, mitten in der als gerecht empfundenen Wut der Schlacht.

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
शङ्खम्conch-shell
शङ्खम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशङ्ख
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रदध्मौblew (sounded)
प्रदध्मौ:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-ध्मा
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्विषताम्of the enemies
द्विषताम्:
TypeNoun
Rootद्विषत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
लोमहर्षणम्causing horripilation (hair-raising)
लोमहर्षणम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootलोमहर्षण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विस्फार्यhaving twanged / having stretched (with a loud sound)
विस्फार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-स्फारय्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active, same as main verb
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्रेष्ठम्excellent, best
श्रेष्ठम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ध्वजेon the banner/standard
ध्वजे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootध्वज
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
भूतानिbeings, spirits
भूतानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अचोदयत्urged, impelled
अचोदयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootचुद्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, अ- (augment)

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
P
Pārtha (Arjuna)
K
Kaurava soldiers
Ś
śaṅkha (conch)
D
dhanuḥ (bow)
D
dhvaja (banner/standard)
B
bhūta (spirits/beings on the banner)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how righteous courage in battle is sustained not only by weapons but by resolve and symbols: the conch and bow-sound function as moral and psychological forces—bolstering one’s own side while unsettling aggressors—showing that dharma-yuddha involves steadiness of mind as much as physical prowess.

Arjuna (Pārtha), having engaged the Kaurava forces, blows his conch to terrify the enemy and then twangs his bow. The sounds serve as signals of dominance and confidence, and he is described as stirring the supernatural beings associated with his banner, intensifying the battle’s momentum and morale.