Shloka 14

कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter

Devanagari script

यस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा भयकरं महत्‌

Transliteration

yasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ śrutvā bhayakaraṃ mahat

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Hearing the great, fearsome roar produced by the twang of his bowstring and the striking of his palm…”. The line heightens the battlefield air, portraying martial sound itself as a moral and psychological force—shaking courage, proclaiming prowess, and foreshadowing the violence about to unfold.

Word by Word

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• ज्यातलनिर्घोषम्: the twang/roar of the bowstring
• ज्यातलनिर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्यातलनिर्घोष
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• भयकरम्: fear-causing, terrifying
• भयकरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयकर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• महत्: great, very large
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bowstring (jyā)
• palm-strike/clap (tala)
• roar/sound (nirghoṣa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how external displays of power—here, the terrifying sound of a warrior’s bowstring and palm-strike—can shape the moral and psychological terrain of war by spreading fear, testing resolve, and announcing imminent conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior’s intimidating martial sound: the loud reverberation associated with the bowstring and a palm-strike. This serves as a dramatic cue in the battle narrative, signaling formidable presence and escalating tension.