Shloka 12

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशने: । सर्वसैन्यानि भीतानि व्यवालीयन्त भारत,भारत! बिजलीकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान गाण्डीवका गम्भीर घोष सुनकर हमारे समस्त सैनिक भयभीत हो लुकने-छिपने लगे

Transliteration

śrutvā gāṇḍīva-nirghoṣaṁ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ | sarva-sainyāni bhītāni vyavālīyanta bhārata bhārata ||

Translation

ครั้นได้ยินเสียงกัมปนาทอันกึกก้องของคันธนูคาณฑีวะ ดุจสายฟ้าฟาดคำราม โอ้ภารตะ กองทัพทั้งมวลของเราก็ครั่นคร้าม หวาดหวั่น ถอยร่นและแตกกระจัดกระจายไป

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), कर्तरि

• गाण्डीव-निर्घोषम्: the roar/sound of (the bow) Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीव-निर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विस्फूर्जितम्: thundered/roared
• विस्फूर्जितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + स्फूर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अशनेः: of the thunderbolt / lightning
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सर्व-सैन्यानि: all the armies/troops
• सर्व-सैन्यानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भीतानि: frightened
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक; √भी)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• व्यवालीयन्त: withdrew / recoiled / shrank back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + ली (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Gāṇḍīva
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• Kaurava army (implied by 'our troops')
• Arjuna (implied as wielder of Gāṇḍīva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that in righteous warfare and leadership, inner strength and reputation can decisively affect outcomes: fear and loss of cohesion can defeat an army even before physical combat, showing the ethical importance of courage, discipline, and steadiness of mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces, upon hearing the thunderous sound of Arjuna’s bow Gāṇḍīva, became frightened and began to recoil and scatter, indicating a sudden collapse of morale in the face of Arjuna’s presence.