Shloka 18

Devanagari script

वज्संस्पर्शरूपाणामस्त्राणां च प्रयोजक:ः । स खड्गाक्षेपहस्तस्तु घोष॑ चक्रे महारथ:,अर्जुन वेदज्ञ, शौर्यसम्पन्न, अग्नि और सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी, इन्द्रास्त्रका ज्ञाता, अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न, वेगपूर्वक आक्रमण करनेवाला और बड़े-बड़े संग्रामोंमें विजय पानेवाला है। वह ऐसे-ऐसे अस्त्रोंका प्रयोग करता है, जिनका हलका-सा स्पर्श भी वज्रके समान कठोर है। महारथी अर्जुन अपने हाथमें सदा तलवार खींचे ही रहता है और उसका प्रहार करके विकट गर्जना करता है

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

vajra-saṁsparśa-rūpāṇām astrāṇāṁ ca prayojakaḥ |

sa khaḍgākṣepa-hastas tu ghoṣaṁ cakre mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

వజ్రస్పర్శంలా కఠినమైన ఆయుధాలను ప్రయోగించడంలో అతడు నిపుణుడు. ఆ మహారథి చేతిలో ఖడ్గాన్ని ఎత్తి ఊపుతూ ప్రహారం చేసి, భయంకరమైన గర్జన చేశాడు.

Word by Word

वज्रसंस्पर्शरूपाणाम्of those whose nature is (like) the touch of a thunderbolt

अस्त्राणाम्of weapons

चand

प्रयोजकःuser/employer (one who deploys)

सःhe

खड्गाक्षेपहस्तःwhose hand is (engaged in) brandishing/throwing the sword

तुbut/indeed

घोषम्a roar/clamour

चक्रेmade/uttered

महारथःthe great chariot-warrior

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

khaḍga (sword)

astra (weapons)

vajra (thunderbolt)

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 foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined martial competence: power is not mere rage but skilled, purposeful deployment of weapons, coupled with fearless presence on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing the battle account, is told of a great warrior’s terrifying effectiveness—he wields thunderbolt-like weapons and, sword raised, creates a formidable roar as he strikes in combat.