Shloka 5
Duryodhana-śibira-praveśaḥ — The Pāṇḍavas Enter the Kaurava Camp; The Burning of Arjuna’s Chariot
ध्नुंष्यन्ये व्याक्षिपन्त ज्याश्वाप्यन्ये तथाक्षिपन् दध्मुरन्ये महाशड्खानन्ये जषघ्नुश्न दुन्दुभीन् ५ ।। किसीने धनुष टंकारा, किसीने प्रत्यंचा खींची, कुछ लोग बड़े-बड़े शंख बजाने लगे और दूसरे बहुत-से सैनिक डंके पीटने लगे
sañjaya uvāca |
dhnuṁṣyanye vyākṣipanta jyāś cāpyanye tathākṣipan |
dadhmuranye mahāśaṅkhān anye jaghnuś ca dundubhīn || 5 ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ada yang memetik busur hingga berdenting; yang lain menarik lalu melepaskan tali busur. Ada yang meniup sangkakala besar, sementara ramai yang lain memalu gendang perang, membangkitkan hiruk-pikuk medan laga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective martial signals—twanging bows, blowing conches, beating drums—prepare armies psychologically for combat. Ethically, it underscores the gravity of war: before weapons strike bodies, sound and display first harden resolve and normalize impending violence.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield atmosphere as the troops make ready: some brandish and twang bows, others draw their bowstrings, while conches and drums are sounded to rally forces and announce the commencement of fighting.