Shloka 8
ततः पुण्याहघोषेण स्वस्तिवादस्वनेन च । संस्तवैर्गीतशब्दैश्व सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्,पुण्याहवाचन, स्वस्तिवाचन, सूत, मागध और वन्दीजनोंके स्तोत्र, गीत तथा श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंक जय-जयकारके शब्दसे एवं नाचनेवाली स्त्रियोंके नृत्यसे द्रोणाचार्यका विधिवत् सत्कार करके कौरवोंने यह मान लिया कि अब पाण्डव पराजित हो गये
tataḥ puṇyāhaghoṣeṇa svastivādasvanena ca | saṁstavair gītaśabdaiś ca sūtamāgadhavandīnām, puṇyāhavācana-svastivācana-sūta-māgadha-vandijanānāṁ stotra-gīta-tathā śreṣṭha-brāhmaṇānāṁ jaya-jayakāra-śabdaiḥ evaṁ nācanevālī-strīṇāṁ nṛtyena droṇācāryaṁ vidhivat satkṛtya kauravaiḥ idaṁ manyata—idānīṁ pāṇḍavāḥ parājitāḥ
Sañjaya said: Then, amid the auspicious cries of “puṇyāha” and the resonant blessings of “svasti,” with hymns and songs sung by the sūtas, māgadhas, and court-bards, with formal proclamations of auspiciousness, with the loud “Victory! Victory!” of eminent brāhmaṇas, and with the dances of performing women, the Kauravas duly honored Droṇācārya. In their hearts they concluded that the Pāṇḍavas were now as good as defeated.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public ritual, praise, and victory-acclamations can create an atmosphere of certainty and triumph, yet such confidence may be premature. Ethically, it cautions against mistaking ceremonial celebration and collective enthusiasm for true moral or strategic victory.
After installing Droṇa as commander, the Kauravas perform a formal, auspicious reception with blessings, hymns, songs, and dances. Buoyed by this grand honoring of Droṇa, they assume the Pāṇḍavas are effectively already defeated.