Shloka 32

Chapter 30: Formation Disruption, Competing War-Cries, and Nīla’s Fall

Droṇa-parva

Devanagari script

शड्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं वादित्राणां च निः:स्वनम्‌

Transliteration

śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaṃ vāditrāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanam

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଶଙ୍ଖ ଓ ଦୁନ୍ଦୁଭିର ଗର୍ଜନ ଉଠିଲା, ଅନ୍ୟ ଯୁଦ୍ଧବାଦ୍ୟର ଗୁଞ୍ଜନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚାରିଦିଗେ ପ୍ରସାରିତ ହେଲା। ଏହି ବଢ଼ୁଥିବା ରଣନାଦ ସେନାମାନଙ୍କ ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ ଓ ଧର୍ମକର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟକୁ ଆହ୍ୱାନ କଲା, ଯଦିଓ ହିଂସାର ମୂଲ୍ୟର ଛାୟା ସବୁଠାରେ ଲମ୍ବିଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषम्: the roar/sound of conches and kettle-drums
• शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख-दुन्दुभि-निर्घोष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वादित्राणाम्: of musical instruments
• वादित्राणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादित्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निःस्वनम्: the resounding noise
• निःस्वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• śaṅkha (conch)
• dundubhi (kettledrum)
• vāditra (war-instruments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how collective action in war is preceded and energized by signals—conches and drums—that awaken courage and a sense of duty; ethically, it reminds the reader that such stirring calls can propel people into grave, consequential choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield soundscape: conches, kettledrums, and other instruments are being sounded loudly, indicating the armies’ mobilization and the intensification of the conflict in the Drona Parva.