Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अथ शोणान्‌ सदद्चांस्तान्‌ हंसवर्णर्मनोजवै: । मिश्रितान्‌ समरे दृष्टवा व्यस्मयन्त रणे नरा:,रणभूमिमें उन लाल रंगके सुन्दर घोड़ोंको हंसके समान वर्णवाले मनके सदृश वेगशाली श्वेत घोड़ोंसे मिला देख युद्ध करनेके विषयमें सब लोग आश्वर्यमें पड़ गये

Transliteration

atha śoṇān sadadśāṁs tān haṁsavārṇair manojavaiḥ | miśritān samare dṛṣṭvā vyasmayanta raṇe narāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then, seeing in the battle those fine red horses intermingled with white horses—swan-hued and swift as thought—the men on the battlefield were struck with astonishment.

Word by Word

अथthen

शोणान्red (ones)

सदश्वान्excellent horses

तान्those

हंसवर्णैःwith swan-colored (white) ones

मनोजवैःwith mind-swift (very swift) ones

मिश्रितान्mingled, mixed

समरेin battle

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

व्यस्मयन्तwere astonished

रणेin the fight

नराःmen, warriors

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

horses (red horses)

horses (white/swan-colored horses)

battlefield (raṇa/raṇabhūmi)

battle (samara)

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 appearances and strategic display in war—such as the striking sight of swift, well-bred horses—can influence human psychology. Astonishment and shaken confidence are ethical and practical factors in conflict, reminding readers that victory is shaped not only by force but also by perception and morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield, warriors observe a remarkable formation: beautiful red horses mixed among swan-white, thought-swift horses. This unusual and impressive sight causes the men present to marvel, signaling heightened tension and the spectacle of martial readiness.