Shloka 15
द्रोणपर्व — द्विनवति-तमोऽध्यायः
Sātyaki Pressed by Kauravas; Duryodhana and Kṛtavarmā Engagements
नानावादित्रशब्देन पाज्चजन्यस्वनेन च । देवदत्तस्य घोषेण गाण्डीवनिनदेन 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
nānāvāditraśabdena pāñcajanyasvanena ca | devadattasya ghoṣeṇa gāṇḍīvaninadēna ca ||
Sañjaya said: Amid the clamour of many kinds of instruments—together with the roar of Pāñcajanya, the deep peal of Devadatta, and the reverberating twang of the Gāṇḍīva—there arose a terrifying din that broke the enemy’s momentum. Men and elephants, their speed checked, were struck senseless with fear; and Arjuna, the Savyasācī, then tore through them with dreadful, serpent-like arrows.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in righteous warfare (kṣatriya-dharma), victory is not only physical but also moral and psychological: symbols of resolve—conch-blasts and the bow’s thunder—can collapse an opponent’s courage. It also cautions that fear can render even strong forces (men and elephants) ineffective, showing the ethical weight of leadership and morale in battle.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where the combined din of war-instruments, Kṛṣṇa’s Pāñcajanya, Arjuna’s Devadatta, and the Gāṇḍīva’s reverberation overwhelms the enemy. Their advance falters; many are stunned by fear, and Arjuna then pierces and scatters them with fierce arrows likened to venomous serpents.