Shloka 14

Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas

Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode

Devanagari script

स तु शब्देन लोकांस्त्रीनावृत्य रथिनां वर: । धनुरादाय सुमहज्ज्याशब्दमकरोत्‌ तदा,रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कृपाचार्यने उस शंखनादसे तीनों लोकोंको गुँजाकर उस समय हाथदमें धनुष ले लिया और उसकी प्रत्यंचा खींचकर टंकारध्वनि की

Transliteration

sa tu śabdena lokāṁs trīn āvṛtya rathināṁ varaḥ | dhanur ādāya sumahaj jyāśabdam akarot tadā ||

Translation

అనంతరం రథులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన కృపాచార్యుడు ఆ శబ్దంతో మూడు లోకాలను నింపి, అప్పుడే మహాధనుస్సును తీసుకొని, జ్యాను లాగి ఘోరమైన టంకారాన్ని కలిగించాడు.

Word by Word

सःhe

तुbut/indeed

शब्देनwith/by the sound

लोकान्worlds/regions

त्रीन्three

आवृत्यhaving filled/covered (resounded through)

रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors

वरःthe best/excellent one

धनुःbow

आदायhaving taken

सुमहत्very great

ज्याशब्दम्the twang-sound (sound of the bowstring)

अकरोत्made/produced

तदाthen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛpācārya

bow (dhanuḥ)

bowstring (jyā)

three worlds (triloka)

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 warrior-code aspect of dharma: before engagement, a champion signals readiness openly. The bowstring’s twang functions as a public declaration of resolve and capability, emphasizing courage, discipline, and accountability in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Kṛpācārya as he takes up his great bow and draws the string to make a loud twang that seems to fill the three worlds—an audible sign that battle preparations and confrontation are underway.