Shloka 29

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

अपि संतनयेयुर्ये भयं साक्षाच्छतक्रतो: । यदा श्रोष्यसि निर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशने:

Transliteration

api saṃtanayeyur ye bhayaṃ sākṣāc chatakratoḥ | yadā śroṣyasi nirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ ||

Translation

Śalya said: “Even those who could dispel fear—fear as palpable as that inspired by Śatakratu (Indra) himself—will falter when you hear that dreadful roar, like the thunderous crash of a lightning-bolt.”

Word by Word

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• संतनयेयुः: would spread/extend; would propagate
• Type: Verb
• Root: संतनय् (सन् + तनु/तन्)
• Form: Vidhi-linga (optative), present-system (optative sense), 3rd, plural, Parasmaipada

• ये: who; those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• साक्षात्: directly; in person
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात्

• शतक्रतोः: of Śatakratu (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• यदा: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• श्रोष्यसि: you will hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Lṛṭ (simple future), future, 2nd, singular, Parasmaipada

• निर्घोषम्: a loud sound; roar
• निर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• विस्फूर्जितम्: roared; thundered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्फूर्जित (वि + स्फूर्ज् + क्त)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• इव: like; as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अशनेः: of the thunderbolt; of thunder
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि
• Form: feminine, genitive, singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Śatakratu (Indra)
• aśani (thunderbolt/lightning)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overwhelming sound and spectacle in battle can shake even those thought capable of mastering fear; true steadiness requires inner courage that is not dependent on external conditions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya is speaking in the Karṇa Parva, warning or taunting about an impending terrifying battle-roar—likened to thunder/lightning—suggesting it will unsettle warriors even of great reputation.