Shloka 26
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
ततस्त्वभूद् वै तलतालशब्द: सशड्रभेरीपणवप्रणाद: । प्रक्षेडितज्यातलनि:स्वनं तं वैकर्तनं पूजयतां कुरूणाम्
tatas tv abhūd vai talatālaśabdaḥ saśaṅkhabherīpaṇavapraṇādaḥ | prakṣeditajyātalaniḥsvanaṃ taṃ vaikartanaṃ pūjayatāṃ kurūṇām ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Noon ay umalingawngaw ang dagundong ng palakpakan at papuri, kasabay ng pag-ugong ng mga kabibe, pagyanig ng malalaking tambol, at malalim na alingawngaw ng mga tambol na paṇava. Habang si Vaikartana (Karṇa) ay paulit-ulit na humihila at nagpapakawala ng bagting ng kanyang busog, kumalat ang matinis na tunog nito sa hanay ng mga Kaurava na pumupuri at nagpaparangal sa kanya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public acclaim and martial spectacle can amplify collective confidence and aggression. Ethically, it invites reflection on how crowds and praise can intensify the momentum toward conflict, sometimes eclipsing sober discernment (dharma-vicāra).
In the Kaurava camp, Karṇa repeatedly draws his bowstring to produce a loud twang, and the Kauravas celebrate him. The scene is filled with applause, conches, and drums—signaling readiness for battle and rallying the troops around Karṇa’s prowess.