Shloka 18

Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ

The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges

Devanagari script

वज्संस्पर्शरूपाणामस्त्राणां च प्रयोजक:ः । स खड्गाक्षेपहस्तस्तु घोष॑ चक्रे महारथ:

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

vajra-saṁsparśa-rūpāṇām astrāṇāṁ ca prayojakaḥ |

sa khaḍgākṣepa-hastas tu ghoṣaṁ cakre mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Il est maître à déployer des armes dont le seul contact est tel la foudre. Ce grand guerrier de char, l’épée levée en main, frappa et poussa un rugissement effroyable.»

Word by Word

• वज्रसंस्पर्शरूपाणाम्: of those whose nature is (like) the touch of a thunderbolt
• वज्रसंस्पर्शरूपाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र-संस्पर्श-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अस्त्राणाम्: of weapons
• अस्त्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• प्रयोजकः: user/employer (one who deploys)
• प्रयोजकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• खड्गाक्षेपहस्तः: whose hand is (engaged in) brandishing/throwing the sword
• खड्गाक्षेपहस्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग-आक्षेप-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• घोषम्: a roar/clamour
• घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रे: made/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)
• khaḍga (sword)
• astra (weapons)
• vajra (thunderbolt)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined martial competence: power is not mere rage but skilled, purposeful deployment of weapons, coupled with fearless presence on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing the battle account, is told of a great warrior’s terrifying effectiveness—he wields thunderbolt-like weapons and, sword raised, creates a formidable roar as he strikes in combat.