Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अमानुषाणां शब्देन भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम्‌ | रथस्य च निनादेन मनो मुहाृति मे भूशम्‌,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

Transliteration

Uttara uvāca | amānuṣāṇāṁ śabdena bhūtānāṁ dhvajavāsinām | rathasya ca ninādena mano muhūrti me bhṛśam ||

Translation

Uttara said: “For a moment my mind has been greatly shaken—by the unearthly cries of the beings dwelling upon the banner, and by the thunderous rumble of the chariot. The dreadful sound of the conch and the extraordinary twang of the bow have filled my heart with fear and agitation.”

Word by Word

• अमानुषाणाम्: of non-human (beings)
• अमानुषाणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• शब्देन: by/with the sound
• शब्देन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भूतानाम्: of spirits/beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ध्वजवासिनाम्: of those dwelling in the banner/standard
• ध्वजवासिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वज-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निनादेन: by/with the roar/resounding noise
• निनादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मनः: mind/heart
• मनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• भूयः: again; greatly; more
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)

• अभूत्: became; was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Uttara
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• ratha (chariot)
• bhūta (non-human beings/spirits)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overwhelming external signs—martial sounds and ominous cries—can destabilize the mind; it implicitly contrasts fear-driven agitation with the steadiness expected of a warrior, setting up the need for guidance and courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttara, overwhelmed by the terrifying sounds associated with the chariot and the banner (and the uncanny beings said to dwell there), confesses that his mind and heart have become intensely disturbed, expressing panic on the eve of confrontation.