Shloka 129
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
महाराज! मैंने रणभूमिमें अश्वत्थामाके धनुषकी शत्रुओंको भयभीत कर देनेवाली टंकार बारंबार सुनी, मानो किसी सिंहके दहाड़नेकी आवाज हो रही हो ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
mahārāja! mayā raṇabhūmau aśvatthāmanaḥ dhanuṣaḥ śatrūn bhayabhītān karoti iti tāṅkāraḥ bāraṃbāraṃ śrutaḥ, siṃhasya nādasya iva |
jyā cāsya carato yuddhe savya-dakṣiṇam asyataḥ |
vidyud ambuda-madhyasthā bhrājamānā iva sābhavat ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: O Hari, sa larangan ay paulit-ulit kong narinig ang nakapanghihilakbot na langitngit ng busog ni Aśvatthāmā na nagpapanginig sa mga kaaway—parang dagundong ng leon. At habang siya’y gumagalaw sa labanan, pinaulanan ng mga palaso ang kaliwa’t kanan, ang kanyang bagting ay kumikislap na wari’y kidlat sa gitna ng nagkakapal na ulap. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito ang giting bilang puwersang kayang manaig sa isip sa pamamagitan ng takot, at nagpapaalala na sa digmaan, ang pamamayani sa sikolohiya at ang dalisay na husay ang madalas magpasya sa sandali, kahit nananatiling di-binibigkas ang bigat na moral ng karahasan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how mastery in battle is not only physical but also psychological: the terrifying sound of a warrior’s bow and the visible brilliance of his weaponry can break enemy morale. Ethically, it implicitly points to the grim reality that war rewards fear-inducing power even as it deepens the human cost of violence.
Sanjaya reports to the king what he witnesses: Ashvatthama is actively ranging across the battlefield, shooting arrows to both left and right. His bow’s twang repeatedly frightens the opposing side, and his bowstring flashes like lightning among clouds, emphasizing speed, intensity, and dominance in combat.