Shloka 35

Devanagari script

अतीव सा निशा तेषां बभूव विजयावहा । विद्योतमाना विबभौ समन्ताद्‌ दीपमालिनी,चारों ओरसे दीपावलियोंद्वारा प्रकाशित होनेवाली वह रात्रि उनके लिये विजयदायिनी होकर अत्यन्त शोभा पाने लगी

Transliteration

atīva sā niśā teṣāṃ babhūva vijayāvahā | vidyotamānā vibabhau samantād dīpamālinī ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: That night proved exceedingly victory-bringing for them. Shining on every side with rows of lamps, it appeared resplendent—an auspicious illumination amid the grim setting of war.

Word by Word

अतीवexceedingly, very much

साthat (she/it)

निशाnight

तेषाम्of them, for them

बभूवbecame, was

विजयावहाbringing victory

विद्योतमानाshining, being illuminated

विबभौshone forth, appeared splendid

समन्तात्on all sides, all around

दीपमालिनीhaving garlands/rows of lamps

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

night (niśā)

rows of lamps (dīpamālā)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even within a violent and morally complex war, signs of order and auspiciousness (like a well-lit, celebratory night) function as psychological and ethical reinforcement—bolstering confidence, cohesion, and the sense of destined success. The verse highlights how external symbols can shape inner resolve and perceived righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a particular night became highly favorable for one side (“for them”), appearing splendid as it was illuminated all around by rows of lamps—suggesting celebration, preparedness, or an auspicious atmosphere preceding or following a decisive moment in the Drona Parva war events.