Shloka 353

नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च

Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault

Devanagari script

बभूव तुमुल: शब्दो मेघानां गर्जतामिव । राजन! रणभूमिमें परस्पर धावा करनेवाले रथोंकी घर्घराहटका भयंकर शब्द मेघोंकी गर्जनाके समान जान पड़ता था

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo meghānāṃ garjatām iva | rājan! raṇabhūmau parasparaṃ dhāva-karaṇe vale rathānāṃ ghargharāhaṭakaḥ bhayaṅkaraḥ śabdo megha-garjanā-samo jñāyate sma |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, di medan perang bangkitlah deru gemuruh—bagaikan guruh awan. Bunyi mengisar dan berkeretak yang menggerunkan daripada kereta-kereta yang saling menerjang tampak seakan-akan halilintar ribut, menandakan pertembungan sengit para pahlawan.

Word by Word

• बभूव: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तुमुलः: tumultuous, loud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शब्दः: sound, noise
• शब्दः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेघानाम्: of the clouds
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• गर्जताम्: of (those) roaring
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Rājan)
• raṇabhūmi (battlefield)
• ratha (chariots)
• megha (clouds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical gravity of war by portraying its overwhelming, fear-inducing force: when violence accelerates (chariots charging), it becomes a natural-catastrophe-like roar, reminding the listener that battle is not merely heroism but also collective terror and destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the battlefield has erupted in a thunder-like din—the harsh clatter of chariots rushing at each other—signaling an intense clash between the opposing forces.