Shloka 96

Devanagari script

शशाड्कसूर्याविव मेघनि:स्वनै- विरिजतुस्तौ पुरषर्षभौ तदा | दोनों दलोंमें होती हुई मृदंग, भेरी, पणव और आनक आदि वाद्योंकी ध्वनिके साथ वे दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ जोर-जोरसे सिंहनाद कर रहे थे, उस समय वे दोनों पुरुषरत्न मेघोंकी गम्भीर गर्जनाके साथ उदित हुए चन्द्रमा और सूर्यके समान प्रकाशित हो रहे थे

Transliteration

śaśāṅka-sūryāv iva megha-niḥsvanaiḥ virajatuḥ tau puruṣarṣabhau tadā |

Translation

రెండు పక్షాలలో మృదంగ, భేరి, పణవ, ఆనక మొదలైన వాద్యాల మేఘగర్జన వంటి ధ్వనుల మధ్య ఆ ఇద్దరు నరశ్రేష్ఠులు గంభీరంగా సింహనాదం చేశారు. ఆ క్షణంలో వారు ఇద్దరూ, మేఘనాదంతో కూడి ఉదయించిన చంద్రసూర్యుల వలె, ప్రకాశించారు.

Word by Word

शशाङ्कmoon

सूर्यौtwo suns / the sun (dual form used in simile with two persons)

इवlike, as

मेघ-निःस्वनैःwith cloud-like roaring sounds

विरिजतुःthey shone, were resplendent

तौthose two

पुरुष-ऋषभौthe two best of men

तदाthen, at that time

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

moon (śaśāṅka)

sun (sūrya)

clouds (megha)

mṛdaṅga (drum)

bherī (war-drum)

paṇava (drum)

ānaka (war-drum)

siṃhanāda (lion-roar)

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 fearless resolve and public responsibility in battle: true leaders steady their side through courage and presence, symbolized by radiant imagery (moon and sun) and the disciplined, collective rhythm of martial instruments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two great warriors on the battlefield. As drums and war-instruments thunder like clouds, the two heroes roar like lions and appear brilliantly radiant—compared to the moon and sun rising—signaling the escalation and intensity of the combat scene.