Shloka 36
Devanagari script
तद् घोरं महदाश्चर्य सर्वे प्रैक्षन्त सर्वतः
Transliteration
tad ghoraṃ mahad āścaryaṃ sarve praikṣanta sarvataḥ
Translation
Sañjaya said: “That dreadful and astonishing spectacle—vast in its wonder—was watched by all, from every side.”
Word by Word
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
घोरम्terrible
घोरम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आश्चर्यम्wonder, marvel
आश्चर्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआश्चर्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वेall (of them)
सर्वे:
Karta
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रैक्षन्तthey looked, beheld
प्रैक्षन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + ईक्ष्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural
सर्वतःfrom all sides, everywhere
सर्वतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः
Formtrue
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological tension of war: events can be simultaneously horrifying and awe-inspiring, drawing universal attention. It underscores how collective witnessing of extreme acts shapes the ethical atmosphere of the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that a particular fearsome and extraordinary occurrence (described in the surrounding verses) has unfolded, and everyone present turns to look at it from all directions, indicating its magnitude and impact.