Shloka 326
धनुर्घोषेण वित्रस्ता: स्वे परे च तदाभवन् | घटोत्कच तीखे बाणोंका संधान करके उन्हें इस प्रकार छोड़ता कि वे एक-दूसरेसे सटे हुए निकलते थे। उसके धनुषकी टंकारसे अपने और शत्रुपक्षके योद्धा भी भयसे थर्रा उठते थे
dhanurghoṣeṇa vitrastāḥ sve pare ca tadābhavan | ghaṭotkacaḥ tīkṣṇabāṇān saṃdhāya tān itthaṃ mumoca yathā te parasparaṃ saṃsaktā niṣpetuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: At that time, both sides—his own warriors and the enemy alike—were shaken with fear by the thunderous twang of the bow. Ghaṭotkaca, having fitted sharp arrows, released them so that they flew forth tightly clustered, as if clinging to one another—an overwhelming display of force that intensified the dread and confusion of the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how displays of power in war affect not only the enemy but also one’s own side—fear spreads through sound, spectacle, and uncertainty. Ethically, it underscores the corrosive nature of escalating violence: even allies become unsettled when warfare turns into overwhelming, indiscriminate terror.
Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca’s archery: he prepares sharp arrows and releases them in tightly clustered volleys. The loud twang of his bow terrifies warriors on both sides, showing his formidable presence and the panic his assault generates.