Mahabharata 3.270.28 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 270, Shloka 28

अध्याय २७०: प्रहस्त-वधः, धूम्राक्ष-हननं, कुम्भकर्ण-प्रबोधनम्

Chapter 270: Slaying of Prahasta; Defeat of Dhūmrākṣa; Awakening of Kumbhakarṇa

Devanagari script

प्रचुक्रशुश्चाप्पथ सिन्धुराजं वृकोदरश्रैव धनंजयश्न । यमौ च राजा च महाथनुर्धरा- स्ततो दिश: सम्मुमुहुः परेषाम्‌

Transliteration

pracukruśuś cāppatha sindhurājaṃ vṛkodaraś caiva dhanaṃjayaś ca | yamau ca rājā ca mahādhanuṣ-dharās tato diśaḥ sammumuhuḥ pareṣām ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then Bhīma (Vṛkodara) and Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya), along with the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva and King Yudhiṣṭhira—those mighty bearers of great bows—raised a fierce challenge against Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu. At that moment the enemy’s troops were so shaken that they lost all sense of direction.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'प्रचुक्रशुः (pracukruśuḥ)', 'definition': 'they shouted aloud

• they cried out in challenge'}, {'term': 'सिन्धुराजम् (sindhurājam)', 'definition': 'the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha)'}, {'term': 'वृकोदरः (vṛkodaraḥ)', 'definition': 'Bhīma

• ‘wolf-bellied’, an epithet of Bhīmasena'}, {'term': 'धनंजयः (dhanaṃjayaḥ)', 'definition': 'Arjuna

• ‘winner of wealth’, an epithet of Arjuna'}, {'term': 'यमौ (yamau)', 'definition': 'the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva)'}, {'term': 'राजा (rājā)', 'definition': 'the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in this context)'}, {'term': 'महाधनुर्धराः (mahādhanuṣ-dharāḥ)', 'definition': 'great bowmen

• mighty wielders of bows'}, {'term': 'दिशः (diśaḥ)', 'definition': 'directions, quarters'}, {'term': 'सम्मुमुहुः (sammumuhuḥ)', 'definition': 'became utterly confused

• were bewildered'}, {'term': 'परेषाम् (pareṣām)', 'definition': 'of the enemies

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Jayadratha
• Sindhu (kingdom)
• Bhīma (Vṛkodara)
• Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya)
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of confronting wrongdoing with resolute courage: righteous warriors, united in purpose, can break the enemy’s morale. Ethical force here is shown not only through weapons but through fearless resolve that destabilizes injustice.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Pāṇḍavas—Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, and King Yudhiṣṭhira—collectively challenge Jayadratha, the Sindhu king. Their fierce outcry and readiness for combat terrify the opposing soldiers, who become disoriented and lose sense of direction.