Shloka 34
कम्पयन्निव घोषेण धनुषो वसुधां बली । सूतपुत्रो महाराज सात्यकिं प्रत्ययोधयत्,महाराज! बलवान सूतपुत्र कर्ण भी अपने धनुषकी टंकारसे पृथ्वीको कम्पित करता हुआ-सा सात्यकिके साथ युद्ध करने लगा
kampayann iva ghoṣeṇa dhanuṣo vasudhāṃ balī | sūtaputro mahārāja sātyakiṃ pratyayodhayat ||
Sañjaya said: O King, the mighty son of a charioteer—Karṇa—seemed to make the earth tremble with the thunderous twang of his bow as he advanced to engage Sātyaki in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ideal of battlefield valor and the compelling force of one’s duty to fight for one’s chosen side. It also reflects how outward displays of power (the bow’s thunder) shape morale and perception in war, reminding readers that ethical struggle in the Mahābhārata often unfolds through the tension between personal excellence and the larger consequences of conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, described as the mighty Sūtaputra, advances to fight Sātyaki. The twang of Karna’s bow is portrayed as so loud that it seems to shake the earth, emphasizing the intensity of the duel about to take place.