Shloka 34

Devanagari script

ततो गाण्डीवनिर्ोषि श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य धीमत: । गदावेगं च भीमस्य नाल॑ सोदढुं नराधिपा:,“उस समय परम बुद्धिमान्‌ अर्जुनके गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार सुनकर और भीमसेनकी गदाका महान्‌ वेग देखकर कोई भी राजा उनका सामना करनेमें समर्थ न हो सकेंगे

Transliteration

tato gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaṃ śrutvā pārthasya dhīmataḥ | gadāvegaṃ ca bhīmasya na alaṃ soḍhuṃ narādhipāḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Then, hearing the thunderous twang of the wise Pārtha’s Gāṇḍīva bow, and seeing the tremendous rush of Bhīma’s mace, the kings will not be able to endure it—none will be capable of standing against them.”

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

गाण्डीव-निःघोषम्the twang/sound of (the bow) Gāṇḍīva

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

पार्थस्यof Pārtha (Arjuna)

धीमतःof the intelligent/wise one

गदा-वेगम्the force/impetus of the mace

चand

भीमस्यof Bhīma

नnot

अलम्able, sufficient

सोढुम्to endure/bear

नर-अधिपाःkings, rulers of men

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Arjuna (Pārtha)

Gāṇḍīva

Bhīma

gadā (mace)

narādhipāḥ (kings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how righteous prowess and disciplined martial excellence can overwhelm unjust or wavering rulers: mere political status (being a king) is insufficient without courage, preparedness, and adherence to kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra anticipates the battlefield impact of the Pāṇḍavas’ champions: Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva resounds like a roar, and Bhīma’s mace-charge is irresistible, so opposing kings are expected to lose heart and be unable to stand firm.