Shloka 14
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
तेन शब्देन महता संद्ृष्ठ श्चक़्ुराहवम् । वीरा वीरैर्महाघोरं कलहान्तं तितीर्षव:,कलहके पार जानेकी इच्छा रखनेवाले वे सभी वीर उस महान् शब्दसे हर्ष एवं उत्साहमें भरकर विपक्षी वीरोंके साथ अत्यन्त घोर संग्राम करने लगे
tena śabdena mahatā saṃdṛṣṭaś cakṣur āhavam | vīrā vīrair mahāghoraṃ kalahāntaṃ titīrṣavaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Digetarkan oleh gemuruh yang dahsyat itu, para pahlawan menumpukan pandangan ke medan perang. Mendambakan untuk menempuh pertikaian hingga ke penghujungnya, para wira itu—wira berhadapan wira—dipenuhi kegembiraan dan tekad, lalu terjun ke dalam pertempuran yang paling menggerunkan melawan juara pihak lawan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological momentum of war: a single overwhelming sound can ignite collective courage and determination. Ethically, it underscores the Kṣatriya ethos of steadfastness—once engaged, warriors seek to see the conflict through to its conclusion, even when the struggle is ‘mahāghora’ (terrible).
Sañjaya describes how, upon hearing a great tumult/roar, the warriors focus on the battlefield and, filled with excitement and resolve, engage the opposing heroes in fierce combat, intent on pressing the struggle toward its end.