Shloka 7

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

Devanagari script

चण्डवातो यथा मेघ: सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान्‌ । दिश: सम्प्लावयन्‌ सर्वा: शरवर्ष: समनन्‍्तत:ः

Transliteration

caṇḍavāto yathā meghaḥ savidyut-stanayitnumān | diśaḥ samplāvayan sarvāḥ śaravarṣaḥ samanantataḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ ପବନ ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ୍‌-ଗର୍ଜନାଯୁକ୍ତ ମେଘକୁ ହାଙ୍କି ନେଇଯାଏ, ସେପରି ଅନନ୍ତ ପରି ଲାଗୁଥିବା ବାଣବୃଷ୍ଟି ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗକୁ ପ୍ଲାବିତ କରି ଉମ୍ମାଦିତ ହେଲା; ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ସେ ଝଡ଼ କୌଣସି ଦିଗକୁ ଅସ୍ପୃଶ୍ୟ ରଖିଲା ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

चण्डवातःa fierce wind

यथाas, just as

मेघःa cloud

सविद्युत्with lightning

स्तनयित्नुमान्thundering

दिशःthe directions (quarters)

सम्प्लावयन्flooding, inundating

सर्वाःall

शरवर्षःa rain of arrows

समन्ततःon all sides, all around

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical gravity of war by portraying its violence as a natural catastrophe: once unleashed, it spreads indiscriminately in all directions. The imagery cautions that martial power, like a storm, can overwhelm boundaries and restraint, reminding listeners of the need for dharmic control and responsibility in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates the battlefield scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describing an unceasing, all-encompassing barrage of arrows. He compares it to a storm-cloud driven by fierce winds, with lightning and thunder, to convey the intensity and inescapability of the fighting.