Shloka 51

द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः

Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction

Devanagari script

शृणु दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषमर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति

Transliteration

śṛṇu dundubhinirghoṣam arjunasya rathaṃ prati

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Listen to the thunderous roar of the war-drum, aimed toward Arjuna’s chariot.”

Word by Word

• शृणु: hear, listen
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (शृणोति)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 2nd, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• दुन्दुभि-निर्घोषम्: the drum-like roar/sound
• दुन्दुभि-निर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• अर्जुनस्य: of Arjuna
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रति: towards, against, in the direction of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• ratha (chariot)
• dundubhi (war-drum)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how battlefield sounds—like the dundubhi—function as intentional signals that shape morale and attention. Ethically, it underscores the gravity of war: even before weapons strike, organized violence announces itself through ritualized noise meant to rally one side and intimidate the other.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, draws attention to a booming war-drum sound aimed toward Arjuna’s chariot—indicating a directed challenge, mobilization, or escalation around Arjuna’s position in the battle.