Shloka 376

Devanagari script

विधुन्वानो धनु: श्रेष्ठ व्यभश्राजत महायशा: । इस प्रकार मधुवंशके श्रेष्ठ वीर महायशस्वी सात्यकि रणक्षेत्रमें आपकी सेनाका विनाश करके अपने उत्तम धनुषको हिलाते हुए बड़ी शोभा पा रहे थे

Transliteration

vidhunvāno dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ vyabhśrājata mahāyaśāḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: The greatly renowned warrior shone brilliantly as he shook his excellent bow. Thus, Sātyaki—the illustrious hero, foremost of the Madhu line—having wrought destruction in your army on the battlefield, moved his superb bow and appeared in heightened splendor.

Word by Word

विधुन्वानःshaking, brandishing

धनुःbow

श्रेष्ठम्excellent, best

व्यभ्राजतshone forth

महायशाःof great fame (the renowned one)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sātyaki

Madhuvaṃśa (Yādava lineage)

bow (dhanuḥ)

battlefield (raṇakṣetra)

Kaurava army (your army—implied)

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 the paradox of kṣatriya glory: a warrior’s splendor and fame arise from mastery and courage, yet that radiance is inseparable from the heavy moral reality of causing widespread destruction in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki, after cutting down many of the Kaurava forces, is seen on the battlefield brandishing his excellent bow and shining with conspicuous martial brilliance.