Shloka 17
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
ट्रुपदस्य शरा घोरा विचेरु: सर्वतो दिशम् । ततः शड्खाश्न भेर्यश्व मृदड़ाश्न सहस्रश:
drupadasya śarā ghorā viceruḥ sarvato diśam | tataḥ śaṅkhaś ca bheryaś ca mṛdaṅgāś ca sahasraśaḥ, dhanurjyātalaśabdaś ca saṃspṛśya gaganaṃ mahān ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: Las terribles flechas de Drupada recorrieron todas las direcciones. Entonces, al ver su victoria, en las casas de los Pāñcālas resonaron a un tiempo miles de caracolas, tambores de guerra y mṛdaṅgas. Los rugidos leoninos de los guerreros pāñcālas, fuertes de espíritu, se alzaron con ímpetu, y el gran tañido de las cuerdas de los arcos se extendió por el cielo y retumbó lejos y ancho.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial success quickly becomes a public, collective event: victory is marked by disciplined force (arrows, bowstrings) and by communal proclamation (conches and drums). Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya world where prowess and morale are reinforced through shared signals and celebration.
Drupada’s forces are prevailing; his arrows are described as sweeping all directions. Observing this success, the Pāñcālas celebrate loudly—conches and drums sound, warriors roar, and the twang of bowstrings reverberates through the sky.