Shloka 15

मुष्टिश्लिष्टायतज्यं च व्यायताभ्यां महद्‌ धनु: । दोर्भ्या विस्फारयन्‌ भासि महाजलदवद्‌ भशम्‌,“तुम्हारे धनुषकी प्रत्यंचा एक ही समय तुम्हारी मुद्ठीमें सटी हुई तथा गोलाकार फैली हुई दिखायी देती है। जब तुम अपनी दोनों बड़ी-बड़ी भुजाओंसे विशाल धनुषको खींचने और उसकी टंकार करने लगते हो, उस समय महान्‌ मेघके समान तुम्हारी बड़ी शोभा होती है

muṣṭiśliṣṭāyatajyāṃ ca vyāyatābhyāṃ mahad dhanuḥ | dorbhyāṃ visphārayan bhāsi mahājaladavad bhṛśam ||

Sañjaya said: “The bowstring appears at once pressed close within your fist and yet stretched out in a wide arc. When, with your two mighty arms, you draw and make the great bow resound, you shine with intense splendor—like a vast rain-cloud.”

मुष्टि-श्लिष्ट-आयत-ज्यंhaving a bowstring pressed by the fist and stretched out
मुष्टि-श्लिष्ट-आयत-ज्यं:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमुष्टि + श्लिष्ट (√श्लिष्) + आयत (√यम्) + ज्या
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
व्यायताभ्याम्with (your) outstretched (arms) / by the two extended (ones)
व्यायताभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यायत (√यम्)
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Dual
महत्great, huge
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दोर्भ्याम्with (your) two arms
दोर्भ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदोर्
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Dual
विस्फारयन्stretching, drawing (it) wide
विस्फारयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि + √स्फुर्/√स्फार् (causative sense)
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
भासिyou shine, you appear splendid
भासि:
TypeVerb
Root√भास्
FormPresent, 2, Singular, Parasmaipada
महा-जलद-वत्like a great cloud
महा-जलद-वत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमहा + जलद + वत्
भशम्splendour, radiance (reading uncertain due to textual corruption)
भशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभश (uncertain; likely intended भासम्/भासं or भासम् from √भास्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
bow (dhanuḥ)
B
bowstring (jyā)
G
great cloud/rain-cloud (mahājalada)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how disciplined strength and mastery of one’s weapon can appear as awe-inspiring beauty; in the epic’s ethical frame, such power is morally weighty and must be governed by dharma, since splendor in battle is not itself a guarantee of righteousness.

Sañjaya vividly describes a warrior’s archery: the bowstring seems simultaneously gripped in the fist and stretched in a curve, and as the warrior draws and makes the great bow thunder, his presence becomes formidable and radiant like a massive rain-cloud.