Mahabharata 9.7.8 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 7, Shloka 8

Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)

Devanagari script

अभिषिक्ते ततस्तस्मिन्‌ सिंहनादो महानभूत्‌ । तव सैन्ये5भ्यवाद्यन्त वादित्राणि च भारत

Transliteration

abhīṣikte tatastasmīn siṃhanādo mahān abhūt | tava sainye 'bhyavādyanta vāditrāṇi ca bhārata | iti satyaṃ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṃśayaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: Nang siya’y maitalaga na, sumiklab ang isang malakas na ungol na tila leon. Sa iyong hukbo, O Bhārata, umalingawngaw sa lahat ng dako ang mga tugtugin at tambol ng digmaan.

Word by Word

• अभिषिक्ते: when (he was) anointed/crowned
• अभिषिक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिषिक्त (अभि-√सिच्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तस्मिन्: in him/at that (time)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सिंहनादः: lion-roar; loud shout
• सिंहनादः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहनाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महान्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभूत्: arose/occurred/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: Aorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular

• तव: your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• सैन्ये: in the army
• सैन्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अभ्यवाद्यन्त: were sounded/played
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद् (causative: वादयति)
• Form: Imperfect (past), 3rd, Plural

• वादित्राणि: musical instruments
• वादित्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• सत्यं: truth; true (thing)
• सत्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रवीमि: I say/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular

• एषः: this (statement/thing)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्योधन: O Duryodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• Duryodhana
• Kaurava army
• vāditra (war instruments)
• siṃhanāda (lion-roar/battle-cry)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how formal authority (abhīṣeka) and collective celebration can intensify confidence and commitment in war. Ethically, it hints at the danger of certainty and triumphalism: public acclamation may strengthen resolve, but it can also propel a conflict forward without reflection on dharma and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a key figure is installed (anointed) in command, the Kaurava army erupts in loud battle-cries and instruments. Sañjaya reports this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and closes with an emphatic assurance addressed to Duryodhana: “I speak the truth; there is no doubt.”