Shloka 16
आचार्य-क्षमा, देśa–kāla-नīti, तथा भेद-दोषः
Teacher-Reconciliation, Timing-Policy, and the Fault of Factionalism
धनुषश्चैव निर्घोष: श्रुतपूर्वो न मे क्वचित् । अस्य शड्खस्य शब्देन धनुषो नि:स्वनेन च,धनुषकी ऐसी टंकार भी पहले कभी मैंने नहीं सुनी थी। इस शंखके भयानक शब्दसे, धनुषकी अनुपम टंकारसे, ध्वजामें निवास करनेवाले मानवेतर प्राणियोंके घोर शब्दसे तथा रथकी भारी घर्घराहटसे भी डरकर मेरा हृदय बहुत व्याकुल हो उठा है
dhanuṣaś caiva nirghoṣaḥ śrutapūrvo na me kvacit | asya śaṅkhasya śabdena dhanuṣo niḥsvanena ca |
Uttara said: “Never before have I heard such a thunderous sound of a bow. The blare of this conch and the ringing twang of the bow have shaken me; my heart has become deeply agitated with fear.”
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the human response of fear when confronted with overwhelming martial power; it implicitly contrasts untrained panic with the steadiness expected of a warrior, setting up the need for guidance and courage in dharmic action.
Uttara reacts to the terrifying sounds associated with battle—especially the conch’s blast and the bow’s resonant twang—confessing that he has never heard anything like it and that his heart is shaken with fear.