Shloka 32

द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः

Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute

Devanagari script

वीर शतानीकके मारे जानेपर रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ विराट तुरंत ही ध्वज-मालासे विभूषित उसी रथपर आरूढ़ हो गये ।। ततो विस्फार्य नयने क्रोधाद्‌ द्विगुणविक्रम: । मद्रराजरथं तूर्ण छादयामास पत्रिभि:,तब क्रोधसे आँखें फाड़कर दूना पराक्रम दिखाते हुए विराटने अपने बाणोंद्वारा मद्रराजके रथको शीघ्र ही आच्छादित कर दिया

Transliteration

tato visphārya nayane krodhād dviguṇa-vikramaḥ | madrarāja-rathaṁ tūrṇaṁ chādayāmāsa patribhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Virāṭa, his eyes widened in wrath and his prowess seemingly doubled, swiftly covered the chariot of the king of Madra with a dense shower of arrows. The scene underscores how grief and anger on the battlefield can intensify a warrior’s force, even as it drives the conflict toward further destruction.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tataḥ', 'definition': 'then

• thereafter'}, {'term': 'visphārya', 'definition': 'having widened

• having opened wide (especially the eyes)'}, {'term': 'nayane', 'definition': 'the two eyes (dual)'}, {'term': 'krodhāt', 'definition': 'from/through anger

• out of wrath'}, {'term': 'dviguṇa', 'definition': 'twofold

• doubled'}, {'term': 'vikramaḥ', 'definition': 'valor

• heroic energy'}, {'term': 'madrarāja', 'definition': 'the king of Madra (here: Śalya)'}, {'term': 'rathaṁ', 'definition': 'chariot (accusative singular)'}, {'term': 'tūrṇam', 'definition': 'quickly

• swiftly'}, {'term': 'chādayāmāsa', 'definition': 'he covered

• he overwhelmed (with missiles)'}, {'term': 'patribhiḥ', 'definition': 'with arrows (lit. ‘winged ones’)'}]

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Virāṭa
• Madrarāja (Śalya)
• ratha (chariot)
• patri (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger can amplify outward power in the moment, yet it also fuels escalation in war. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such wrath-driven valor is a real force but morally perilous, reminding readers that inner passions shape the course and cost of dharma on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being provoked by events in battle, Virāṭa becomes enraged, opens his eyes wide, and with intensified vigor shoots a rapid volley that ‘covers’ (overwhelms and obscures) the chariot of the Madrarāja—Śalya—indicating a fierce exchange between chariot-warriors.