Shloka 21
सैन्धवविक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of Jayadratha’s Martial Display
तस्य ज्यातलघोषेण क्षत्रियान् भयमाविशत् | परांस्तु तव सैन्यस्य हर्ष: परमको5भवत्,अभ्यद्रवन् परीप्सन्तो व्यूढानीका: प्रहारिण: । संजयने कहा--राजन! युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, शिखण्डी, सात्यकि, नकुल-सहदेव, धष्टद्युम्न, विराट, द्रपद, केकय-राजकुमार, रोषमें भरा हुआ धृष्टकेतु तथा मत्स्यदेशीय योद्धा --ये सब-के-सब युद्धस्थलमें आगे बढ़े। अभिमन्युके ताऊ, चाचा तथा मामागण अपनी सेनाको व्यूहद्वारा संगठित करके प्रहार करनेके लिये उद्यत हो अभिमन्युकी रक्षाके लिये उसीके बनाये हुए मार्गसे व्यूहमें जानेके उद्देश्यसे एक साथ दौड़ पड़े उसके धनुषकी टंकार सुनकर शत्रुपक्षके क्षत्रियोंके मनमें भय समा गया; परंतु आपके सैनिकोंको बड़ा हर्ष हुआ
tasya jyātalaghoṣeṇa kṣatriyān bhayam āviśat | parāṁs tu tava sainyasya harṣaḥ paramako 'bhavat | abhyadravan parīpsanto vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: “At the sharp twang of his bowstring, fear entered the hearts of the opposing kṣatriyas; but in your army, O king, an exceedingly great exhilaration arose. Eager to strike, the warriors—having their battle-lines arrayed—rushed forward, intent on forcing their way in.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner states—fear and exhilaration—can be triggered by a single martial sign (the bowstring’s twang). In the ethic of kṣatriya-dharma, such signals test steadiness: the same event can weaken one side through fear while strengthening the other through confidence and cohesion.
Sañjaya reports a sudden shift in battlefield momentum: hearing the bow’s twang, the enemy kṣatriyas become fearful, while the Kaurava host is filled with great excitement. With their units already arranged in formation, the fighters surge forward, eager to strike and press into the opposing array.