Shloka 5

Devanagari script

विद्युतं मेघमध्यस्थां भ्राजमानामिवाम्बरे । ददृशुर्गाण्डिवं योधा रुक्मपृष्ठं महामृथे,उस महान्‌ समरमें हमारे पक्षके योद्धाओंने सुवर्णमय पीठसे युक्त गाण्डीवधनुषको आकाश के भीतर मेघोंकी घटामें चमकती हुई बिजलीके समान देखा

Transliteration

vidyutaṁ meghamadhyasthāṁ bhrājamānām ivāmbare | dadṛśur gāṇḍīvaṁ yodhā rukmapṛṣṭhaṁ mahāmṛthe ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In that great clash of arms, our warriors beheld the Gāṇḍīva bow—gold-backed—shining in the sky like lightning flashing amid a mass of clouds.

Word by Word

विद्युतम्lightning

मेघ-मध्य-स्थाम्situated in the midst of clouds

भ्राजमानाम्shining, blazing

इवas if, like

अम्बरेin the sky

ददृशुःthey saw

गाण्डीवम्the Gāṇḍīva (bow)

योधाःwarriors

रुक्म-पृष्ठम्having a golden back (gold-backed)

महा-मृधेin the great battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Kaurava warriors (our side)

sky

clouds

lightning

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary power on the battlefield inspires awe and fear, reminding readers that war magnifies consequences and tests discernment; even before action, the mere sight of a mighty weapon can signal the gravity of choices made in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava-side warriors saw Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva bow, gold-adorned, gleaming like lightning among clouds—an evocative battlefield image emphasizing Arjuna’s formidable presence.