Shloka 36

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

Devanagari script

ततो विस्फार्य नयने धनुज्यामवमृज्य च | तलशब्दं महत्‌ कृत्वा द्रोणस्तं समुपाद्रवत्‌,तब द्रोणाचार्यने आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर देखते हुए धनुषकी डोरी साफ कर महान्‌ टंकारघोष करके सिंहसेनपर आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

tato visphārya nayane dhanujyām avamṛjya ca | talaśabdaṁ mahat kṛtvā droṇas taṁ samupādravat ||

Translation

Then Droṇa, widening his eyes in fierce concentration, wiped and readied the bowstring; and, making a great twang of the bow, he rushed straight at him.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

• विस्फार्य: having widened (opened wide)
• विस्फार्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: विस्फार् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• नयने: the two eyes
• नयने: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Dual

• धनुज्याम्: the bowstring
• धनुज्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुज्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवमृज्य: having wiped/cleaned
• अवमृज्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवमृज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तलशब्दम्: a loud slapping/hand-clap sound
• तलशब्दम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तलशब्द
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great, loud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/produced
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समुपाद्रवत्: ran up/charged at (attacked)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+आ+द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• bowstring (jyā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior’s disciplined readiness and decisive action in battle: skill (preparing the bowstring), focused intent (fierce gaze), and commitment to one’s role under kṣatriya-dharma, even when that role operates within the morally fraught arena of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Droṇa preparing his bow—wiping the bowstring and producing a loud twang—then charging toward his opponent, signaling an imminent clash and Droṇa’s aggressive advance.