Shloka 14
खुरशब्देन चाश्वानां नेमिघोषेण तेन च । तेन चोत्कृष्टशब्देन ज्यानिनादेन तेन च,घोड़ोंकी टापोंके शब्दसे, रथके पहियोंकी उस घरघराहटसे, उच्चस्वरसे किये जानेवाले गर्जन-तर्जनकी उस आवाजसे, धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाकी उस टंकारसे, भाँति-भाँतिके वाद्योंकी ध्वनिसे, पांचजन्यके हुंकारसे, देवदत्त नामक शंखके गम्भीर घोषसे तथा गाण्डीवकी टंकार- ध्वनिसे मनुष्यों और हाथियोंके वेग मन्द पड़ गये और वे सब-के-सब भयके मारे अचेत हो गये। सव्यसाची अर्जुनने विषधर सर्पके समान भयंकर बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें विदीर्ण कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | khuraśabdena cāśvānāṃ nemighoṣeṇa tena ca | tena cotkṛṣṭaśabdena jyāninādena tena ca ||
Sañjaya said: By the clatter of horses’ hooves, the rumbling of chariot-wheels, the loud battle-cries, and the twang of bowstrings—amid that overwhelming din of war—many were seized by fear and confusion. Then Arjuna, the Savyasācī, tore through them with dreadful arrows, like venomous serpents.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can be induced not only by physical force but also by overwhelming sensory impact—especially sound—showing the ethical and psychological dimension of warfare where morale and clarity of mind are decisive.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield din—hooves, chariot-wheels, loud cries, and bowstring twangs—building an image of escalating combat intensity that intimidates and destabilizes combatants.