Shloka 29
भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः
Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array
धनुषां कूजतां शब्द: सर्वतस्तुमुलो रणे । अश्रवूयत महाराज वंशानां दहतामिव,महाराज! रणभूमिमें सब ओर बाँसोंके दग्ध होनेके समान धनुषोंकी टंकारका भयंकर शब्द सुनायी देने लगा
dhanūṣāṃ kūjatāṃ śabdaḥ sarvatas tumulo raṇe | aśravūyata mahārāja vaṃśānāṃ dahatām iva ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, di medan perang dari segala arah bangkit bunyi yang dahsyat dan menggelegak—denting dan derit busur—seperti bunyi buluh yang merekah ketika terbakar.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the overwhelming momentum of war: once hostilities begin, the collective force of weapons and warriors creates an inescapable atmosphere of violence. It implicitly cautions that conflict, when unleashed, becomes larger than individual intent—an ethical reminder of the grave consequences of choosing war.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a terrifying roar is heard across the battlefield—the resonant twang and creak of countless bows—compared to the crackling sound of bamboos burning, signaling the battle’s fierce escalation.