Shloka 9

पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्

Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court

Devanagari script

ततो दिशश्वानुदिशो विवृत्य शरै: सुधारैर्निशितै: सुपत्रै: । गाण्डीवघोषेण मनांसि तेषां महाबल: प्रव्यथयाज्चकार

Transliteration

tato diśaś cānudiśo vivṛtya śaraiḥ sudhārair niśitaiḥ supatraiḥ | gāṇḍīvaghoṣeṇa manāṃsi teṣāṃ mahābalaḥ pravyathayāc cakāra ||

Translation

मग त्या महाबलवान योद्ध्याने सुंदर पिसांनी युक्त, तीक्ष्ण धार असलेल्या बाणांनी सर्व दिशा व उपदिशा व्यापून टाकल्या. गाण्डीवाच्या भयंकर टंकाराने त्याने कौरव योद्ध्यांच्या मनांत तीव्र व्यथा व भय निर्माण केले.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb)

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: feminine, accusative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• अनुदिशः: intermediate directions, quarters
• अनुदिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुदिश्
• Form: feminine, accusative, plural

• विवृत्य: having covered, having filled
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वृत्
• Form: absolutive (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), having covered/filled/spread over

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• सुधारैः: well-edged, sharp-bladed
• सुधारैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधार
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• निशितैः: sharpened, keen
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural (past participle used adjectivally)

• सुपत्रैः: having fine wings/feathers
• सुपत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपत्र
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• गाण्डीवघोषेण: by the sound (twang) of Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीवघोषेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव-घोष
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• मनांसि: minds, hearts
• मनांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• महाबलः: the mighty one (of great strength)
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रव्यथयत्: tormented, caused distress
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + व्यथ्
• Form: imperfect (लङ्), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• चकार: did, made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: perfect (लिट्), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana (narrator/speaker)
• Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• Kaurava warriors (implied by teṣām in context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how prowess in battle is not only physical but also psychological: disciplined skill and a formidable presence can break an opponent’s confidence. In the kṣatriya context, such mastery serves the duty of protecting order (dharma) by decisively subduing aggressors.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mighty warrior (contextually Arjuna) unleashes a dense spread of sharp, well-feathered arrows that seem to fill every direction. Simultaneously, the terrifying twang of the Gāṇḍīva bow shakes the hearts of the opposing Kaurava fighters, throwing them into distress.