Shloka 43

Devanagari script

धनु:शब्दं महत्‌ कृत्वा सहायुध्यन्त पाण्डवै: । महाराज! उन शूरवीरोंने युद्ध करनेका दृढ़ निश्चय कर लिया था, अतः धनुषकी गम्भीर टंकार करके पाण्डवोंके साथ संग्राम आरम्भ कर दिया

Transliteration

dhanuḥśabdaṃ mahat kṛtvā sahāyudhyanta pāṇḍavaiḥ | mahārāja! te śūravīrā yuddhaṃ kartuṃ dṛḍhaniścayāḥ, tasmād dhanuṣāṃ gambhīrāṃ ṭaṅkāraṃ kṛtvā pāṇḍavaiḥ saha saṅgrāmam ārabdhavantaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, raising a great sound with their bows, those heroic warriors—firmly resolved to fight—began the battle alongside the Pāṇḍavas.

Word by Word

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शब्दम्: sound, twang
• शब्दम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great, loud
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा, Active, Absolutive (gerund)

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• आयुध्यन्त: they fought
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Ātmanepada, Third, Plural

• पाण्डवैः: with the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Mahārāja)
• Pāṇḍavas
• bows (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast resolve in the face of conflict: warriors who have made a firm decision act decisively. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya martial code—once duty is accepted, hesitation gives way to disciplined action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that heroic fighters, aligned with the Pāṇḍavas, announce the start of combat through the loud, deep twang of their bows and then commence the battle.