Shloka 116

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

Devanagari script

ततो दिश: सो<नुदिशकश्न पार्थ: शरै: सुधारै: समरे वितत्य । गाण्डीवशब्देन मनांसि तेषां किरीटमाली व्यथयाञज्चकार,तदनन्तर तीखी धारवाले बाणोंसे युद्धस्थलमें सम्पूर्ण दिशाओं और कोणोंको आच्छादित करके किरीटधारी अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकारसे कौरवोंके मनमें भारी व्यथा उत्पन्न कर दी

Transliteration

tato diśaḥ so’nudiśaś ca pārthaḥ śaraiḥ sudhāraiḥ samare vitatya | gāṇḍīvaśabdena manāṃsi teṣāṃ kirīṭamālī vyathayāṃ cakāra ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: Затем Партха разметал по полю брани свои остроотточенные стрелы, покрыв все стороны света и промежуточные направления. И громовым звоном тетивы Гандивы диадемоносец вселил в сердца врагов тяжкую муку.

Word by Word

ततःthereupon

दिशःdirections

सःhe

अनुदिशःintermediate directions (quarters)

चand

पार्थःArjuna (son of Pritha)

शरैःwith arrows

सुधारैःwell-pointed / sharp-edged

समरेin battle

वितत्यhaving spread/covered

गाण्डीवशब्देनby the sound (twang) of the Gāṇḍīva

मनांसिminds

तेषाम्of them (the Kauravas)

किरीटमालीthe crown-wearing one

व्यथयाञ्चकारcaused distress / afflicted

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Kauravas (implied by 'teṣām' in context)

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 highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resolute action in a dharma-yuddha: disciplined skill and unwavering courage can shape not only the physical battle but also the moral and psychological landscape, testing the opponents’ steadiness of mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna unleashing a dense spread of sharp arrows that seems to fill every direction on the battlefield; simultaneously, the loud twang of his bow Gāṇḍīva intimidates and unsettles the enemy warriors (the Kaurava side).