Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds

Devanagari script

विसृजज्छरजालानि वर्षाणि मघवानिव । अवस्फूर्जन्‌ दिश: सर्वास्तलनेमिस्वनेन च

Transliteration

visṛjaj charajālāni varṣāṇi maghavān iva | avasphūrjan diśaḥ sarvāḥ talanemisvanena ca ||

Translation

ਉਹ ਮਘਵਾਨ (ਇੰਦਰ) ਵਾਂਗ ਬਾਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਾਲ ਦੀ ਵਰਖਾ ਕਰਨ ਲੱਗਾ; ਅਤੇ ਰਥ ਦੇ ਪਹੀਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਘੋਰ ਗੜਗੜਾਹਟ ਨਾਲ ਸਭ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗੂੰਜਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• विसृजत्: releasing, discharging
• विसृजत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विसृज्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शरजालानि: nets/volleys of arrows
• शरजालानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरजाल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वर्षाणि: showers (rains)
• वर्षाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मघवान्: Maghavan (Indra)
• मघवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघवन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अवस्फूर्जन्: thundering, roaring
• अवस्फूर्जन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवस्फूर्ज्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तलनेमिस्वनेन: with the sound of the felly/rim of the wheel (i.e., wheel-rim sound)
• तलनेमिस्वनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तलनेमिस्वन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Maghavān (Indra)
• arrows (śara)
• directions/quarters (diśaḥ)
• chariot-wheels (talanemi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how unchecked martial power can become storm-like—overwhelming and all-pervading—intensifying the ethical weight of warfare by showing its capacity to dominate and terrify the entire field of experience (all directions).

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior is described as unleashing dense volleys of arrows like Indra’s rain, while the roar of his chariot-wheels makes every direction reverberate—an epic depiction of a fierce advance and battlefield intimidation.