Shloka 22

Devanagari script

तस्य शब्दो महानासीत्‌ परानभिमुखस्य वै । गरुडस्येव पतत:ः पन्नगार्थे यथा पुरा

Transliteration

tasya śabdo mahān āsīt parān-abhimukhasya vai | garuḍasyeva patataḥ pannagārthe yathā purā ||

Translation

ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ଦିଗକୁ ଉନ୍ମୁଖ ହେବାମାତ୍ରେ ତାଙ୍କ ରଥରୁ ମହାଶବ୍ଦ ଉଠିଲା—ଯେପରି ପୁରାକାଳରେ ସର୍ପକୁ ଧରିବା ପାଇଁ ଝପଟିପଡ଼ୁଥିବା ଗରୁଡ଼ର ପକ୍ଷଧ୍ୱନି।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• शब्दः: sound, noise
• शब्दः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महान्: great, loud
• महान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

• परान्: enemies, opponents
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अभिमुखस्य: of (one) facing/towards
• अभिमुखस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• गरुडस्य: of Garuḍa
• गरुडस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• पततः: of (him) swooping/flying down
• पततः: Sambandha
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: पत्
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पन्नगार्थे: for the sake of a serpent (as prey)
• पन्नगार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot (ratha)
• enemies (śatravaḥ/para)
• Garuḍa
• serpent (pannaga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse is primarily poetic narration rather than direct moral instruction: it uses a powerful simile (Garuḍa swooping for a serpent) to convey the overwhelming force and inevitability of a warrior’s forward drive when he turns to confront foes—highlighting the Mahābhārata’s recurring reflection on how martial resolve can appear awe-inspiring even within a tragic war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant (implied from context) turning to face the enemy; at that moment the chariot produces a great, thunderous sound, compared to the beating wings of Garuḍa as he dives to seize a serpent.