Shloka 3

Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

सतत कृष्यत: संख्ये धनुषो5स्थाशुकारिण: । ज्याघोष: शुश्रुवे5त्यर्थ विस्फूर्जितमिवाशने:,बाण चलानेमें शीघ्रता करनेवाले द्रोणाचार्यके युद्धमें निरन्तर खींचे जाते हुए धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाका टंकार-घोष वजद्रकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान बड़े जोर-जोरसे सुनायी दे रहा था

Transliteration

satataṁ kṛṣyataḥ saṅkhye dhanuṣo 'sthāśukāriṇaḥ | jyāghoṣaḥ śuśruve 'tyarthaṁ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Droṇācārya—swift in setting and releasing his arrows—kept drawing his bow without pause, and the thunderous twang of its string rang out loudly, like the crackling roar of a lightning bolt.

Word by Word

सततम्constantly

कृष्यतःof (it) being drawn/pulled

संख्येin battle

धनुषःof the bow

अस्थwas / existed / occurred

आशुकारिणःof the swift-acting (one)

ज्याघोषःthe twang-sound (of the bowstring)

शुश्रुवेwas heard

इतिthus

अर्थम्meaning / sense / as if

विस्फूर्जितम्a roar / thunderclap

इवlike

अशनेःof the thunderbolt (Indra’s bolt)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇācārya

bow (dhanuḥ)

bowstring (jyā)

thunderbolt/lightning (aśani)

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 sustained skill and relentless action in war can generate overwhelming force and psychological impact. Ethically, it invites reflection on the double-edged nature of excellence: mastery can inspire awe, yet in a destructive context it amplifies fear and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Droṇācārya continuously drawing his bow in battle and rapidly releasing arrows. The repeated twang of the bowstring is so loud that it is compared to the roaring crack of lightning.