Shloka 26

Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

महामेघं महाघोरें दर्दुरः प्रतिनर्दसि । बाणतोयप्रदं लोके नरपर्जन्यमर्जुनम्‌

Transliteration

mahāmeghaṃ mahāghoreṃ darduraḥ pratinardasi | bāṇatoyapradaṃ loke naraparjanyam arjunam ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: «Как лягушка, квакающая в ответ на огромную и грозную грозовую тучу, так и ты рычишь, бросая вызов Арджуне — “человеческой туче” мира, проливающей дождь стрел. Этот образ обнажает нравственную несоразмерность хвастливых речей перед подавляющим мастерством: в войне пустая бравада — лишь самообман перед лицом поистине грозного воина».

Word by Word

• महामेघम्: the great cloud
• महामेघम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामेघ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाघोरे: in/against the very terrible (one)
• महाघोरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाघोर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दर्दुरः: a frog
• दर्दुरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्दुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिनर्दसि: you roar back / you bellow in reply
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्द्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बाणतोयप्रदम्: giving (i.e., raining) arrow-water
• बाणतोयप्रदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाणतोयप्रद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नरपर्जन्यम्: the man-cloud (human rain-giver)
• नरपर्जन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरपर्जन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• mahāmegha (great cloud)
• dardura (frog)
• bāṇa (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse criticizes hollow bravado: loud threats without matching strength are as futile as a frog’s croak against a terrifying storm-cloud. Ethical force in battle is linked to real capability and disciplined action, not mere noise.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior’s loud challenge directed at Arjuna. He uses a sharp simile—frog versus thundercloud—to emphasize Arjuna’s overwhelming, arrow-raining power and to belittle the challenger’s confidence.