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Shloka 14

धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama

महामेघनिभश्नापि निर्घोष: श्रूयते जनै: । महाशनिसम: शब्द: शात्रवाणां भयंकर:

mahāmeghanibhaś cāpi nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate janaiḥ | mahāśanisamaḥ śabdaḥ śātravāṇāṃ bhayaṅkaraḥ ||

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଲୋକେ ସେହି ଘର୍ଘର ନାଦକୁ ମହାମେଘର ଗର୍ଜନ ପରି ଶୁଣନ୍ତି; ମହାବଜ୍ର ସମ ଶବ୍ଦ ଶତ୍ରୁସେନା ପାଇଁ ଭୟଙ୍କର।

महामेघनिभःlike a great cloud
महामेघनिभः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहामेघ-निभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
निर्घोषःroar/sound
निर्घोषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्घोष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रूयतेis heard
श्रूयते:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
FormPresent, Atmanepada (Passive), Third, Singular
जनैःby people
जनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
महाशनिसमःlike a great thunderbolt
महाशनिसमः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाशनि-सम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शब्दःsound
शब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शात्रवाणाम्of the enemies
शात्रवाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशात्रव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
भयंकरःterrifying
भयंकरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभयंकर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśaṃpāyana
E
enemies (śātravāḥ)
P
people (janāḥ)
G
great clouds (mahāmeghāḥ)
T
thunderbolt/thunder (mahāśani/āśani)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how righteous martial power is not only physical but also psychological: the very sound of a great warrior’s approach can break enemy morale, suggesting that fear and confidence are decisive forces in dharmic conflict.

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the terrifying roar—likened to storm-cloud thunder and a thunderbolt—that is heard by all and strikes fear into the enemy ranks, as part of a larger portrayal of the Pandava side’s formidable war-readiness (especially Arjuna’s might in the surrounding passage).