Shloka 52

Śiva’s Battlefield Manifestation and Vyāsa’s Śatarudrīya Exposition (शिवप्रादुर्भावः शतरुद्रीयव्याख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

अथ दथ्मुर्महाशड्खान्‌ धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ

Transliteration

atha dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān dhṛṣṭadyumnaśikhaṇḍinau

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin blew their great conch-shells, sounding a signal of resolve and readiness as the battle’s momentum pressed forward.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• दध्मुः: blew (sounded)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्मा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महाशङ्खान्: great conches
• महाशङ्खान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशङ्ख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ: Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandin
• धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न-शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Śikhaṇḍin
• mahāśaṅkha (great conch-shells)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined coordination in righteous warfare: leaders use agreed signals (the conch) to unify troops and sustain courage, showing that resolve and order are ethical necessities amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin blow their great conches—an audible battle-signal indicating readiness, rallying their side, and marking a decisive moment in the ongoing combat.