Shloka 26
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
Devanagari script
स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली
Transliteration
sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī
Translation
Dijo Sañjaya: El guerrero poderoso tensó su gran arco—semejante al arco de Śakra (Indra)—y lo hizo resonar, señal de que estaba listo para la batalla.
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विस्फार्यhaving stretched (drawn)
विस्फार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√स्फुर्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चापम्bow
चापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
शक्रचापोपमम्like Indra's bow (rainbow)
शक्रचापोपमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्र-चाप-उपम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बलीthe strong one
बली:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबलिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaŚ
Śakra (Indra)B
bow (cāpa)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of resolve and preparedness: the warrior’s act of drawing the bow is not mere display, but a public commitment to face the consequences of battle with steadfast courage.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a powerful fighter draws and stretches a great bow, likened to Indra’s bow, producing the characteristic twang that marks readiness and signals the onset or intensification of combat.