Shloka 10

Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa

Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशने: । त्रस्तानि सर्वसैन्यानि व्यपागच्छन्‌ महाहवात्‌

Transliteration

śrutvā gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ | trastāni sarvasainyāni vyapāgacchan mahāhavāt ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing the thunderous roar of the Gāṇḍīva—like the crack of a lightning-bolt—entire armies were seized with fear and withdrew from that great battle.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• गाण्डीव-निर्घोषम्: the roar/sound of (the bow) Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीव-निर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विस्फूर्जितम्: thundered, resounding
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्फूर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अशनेः: of the thunderbolt / lightning
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• त्रस्तानि: frightened, terrified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सर्व-सैन्यानि: all the armies / all the troops
• सर्व-सैन्यानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• व्यपागच्छन्: withdrew, went away, fled
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अप + गम् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महाहवात्: from the great battle
• महाहवात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• Aśani (thunderbolt/lightning, associated with Indra)
• Sarvasainyāni (the armies/troops)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the psychological dimension of dharmic warfare: disciplined strength and renowned skill can shatter an aggressor’s morale, limiting further harm by forcing retreat. It also reflects kṣatriya-dharma—steadfastness and competence in protecting one’s side through rightful martial excellence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the great battle scene of the Virāṭa narrative, the terrifying sound of the Gāṇḍīva is heard. Comparing it to thunder/lightning, the text says the troops become frightened and pull back from the battlefield.