Shloka 23

तं तु शड्खस्वनं श्रुत्वा संशप्तकवरूथिनी । संचचाल महाराज वित्रस्ता चाद्रवद्‌ भूशम्‌,महाराज! उस शंखनादको सुनकर संशप्तकोंकी सेना काँप उठी और भयभीत होकर जोर-जोरसे भागने लगी

taṃ tu śaṅkhasvanaṃ śrutvā saṃśaptakavarūthinī | saṃcācāla mahārāja vitrastā cādravad bhṛśam ||

Sañjaya said: Hearing that blare of the conch, O King, the battle-array of the Saṃśaptakas was shaken; seized by fear, they broke formation and fled in great haste.

तम्that (sound)
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
शङ्खस्वनम्conch-sound
शङ्खस्वनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशङ्खस्वन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
संशप्तकवरूथिनीthe army/host of the Saṁśaptakas
संशप्तकवरूथिनी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसंशप्तक-वरूथिनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सञ्चचालshook/trembled
सञ्चचाल:
TypeVerb
Rootचल्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
वित्रस्ताterrified
वित्रस्ता:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-त्रस्
Formक्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Feminine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अद्रवत्ran/fled
अद्रवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
भूशम्violently/exceedingly
भूशम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभूशम्

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Ś
Śaṅkha (conch)
S
Saṃśaptakas

Educational Q&A

Even disciplined or vowed warriors can be undone when fear overwhelms resolve; in dharma-based warfare, inner steadiness and courage are as decisive as weapons, and the collapse of morale can determine outcomes.

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, upon hearing a powerful conch-blast, the Saṃśaptaka battle-host trembled, lost cohesion, and fled rapidly in panic.