Shloka 26
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
Devanagari script
स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली
Transliteration
sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī
Translation
تب اس زورآور نے شکر (اِندر) کے کمان کی مانند اپنے عظیم کمان کو کھینچ کر گرج دار ٹنکار پیدا کی۔
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विस्फार्यhaving stretched (drawn)
विस्फार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√स्फुर्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चापम्bow
चापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
शक्रचापोपमम्like Indra's bow (rainbow)
शक्रचापोपमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्र-चाप-उपम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बलीthe strong one
बली:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबलिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaŚ
Śakra (Indra)B
bow (cāpa)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
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of resolve and preparedness: the warrior’s act of drawing the bow is not mere display, but a public commitment to face the consequences of battle with steadfast courage.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a powerful fighter draws and stretches a great bow, likened to Indra’s bow, producing the characteristic twang that marks readiness and signals the onset or intensification of combat.