Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
मुहुर्मुहु: प्रणदतस्तस्य शड्खस्य भारत । अनिशं शब्दमश्रौषं ततो रोमाणि मे5हृषन्,भारत! ऐसा शंख वहाँ बार-बार बजता था और मैं निरन्तर उस शंख-ध्वनिको सुना करता था; इससे मेरे शरीरमें रोमांच हो आता था
muhurmuhuḥ praṇadatas tasya śaṅkhasya bhārata | aniśaṃ śabdam aśrauṣaṃ tato romāṇi me 'hṛṣan ||
ഓ ഭാരതാ! ആ ശംഖം അവിടെ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും മുഴങ്ങിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. അതിന്റെ മുറിയാത്ത പ്രതിധ്വനി ഞാൻ നിരന്തരം കേട്ടു; അതുകൊണ്ട് എന്റെ ശരീരത്തിലെ രോമങ്ങൾ എഴുന്നേറ്റു നിന്നു.
दुर्योधन उवाच
The verse highlights how sensory impressions—especially powerful sounds—can stir intense inner reactions. In the courtly-ethical setting of the Mahābhārata, such reactions often function as portents: a mind already driven by ambition and hostility becomes further unsettled, revealing the fragility beneath outward confidence.
Duryodhana reports that a conch was being blown repeatedly and continuously. Hearing its persistent sound, he experiences bodily bristling (romāñca), signaling strong emotional arousal—excitement mixed with apprehension—within the unfolding tensions of the Sabha Parva.