Shloka 23

द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ९०: हार्दिक्यस्य पराक्रमः

Kṛtavarmā’s Stand against the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

यथा त्रस्यन्ति भूतानि सर्वाण्यशनिनि:स्वनात्‌ । तथा शड्खप्रणादेन वित्रेसुस्तव सैनिका:,जैसे वज़्की गड़गड़ाहटसे सारे प्राणी थर्रा उठते हैं, उसी प्रकार उन दोनों वीरोंकी शंखध्वनिसे आपके समस्त सैनिक संत्रस्त हो उठे

Transliteration

yathā trasyanti bhūtāni sarvāṇy aśaniniḥsvanāt | tathā śaṅkhapraṇādena vitresus tava sainikāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : De même que tous les êtres frémissent quand gronde le tonnerre de la foudre, ainsi, au retentissement des conques de ces deux héros, tous tes soldats reculèrent, saisis de peur.

Word by Word

यथाjust as

त्रस्यन्तिtremble, are frightened

भूतानिcreatures, beings

सर्वाणिall

अशनिनिःस्वनात्from the thunder-like sound (lit. sound of the thunderbolt)

तथाso, in the same way

शङ्खप्रणादेनby the conch-blast

वित्रेसुःtrembled, were terrified

तवyour

सैनिकाःsoldiers

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

conch (śaṅkha)

Kaurava army (tava sainikāḥ)

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 fear and courage spread through armies via symbols and signals: a powerful, righteous or confident proclamation (here, the conch-blast) can shatter the morale of those already inwardly uncertain. Ethically, it points to the inner state—steadfastness versus wavering—as decisive in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the conch-blast of the opposing heroes resounded like thunder, and that this sound caused the Kaurava troops to tremble and panic, indicating a sudden shift in battlefield confidence.