Shloka 72

Devanagari script

तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशने: । निशम्य सर्वतो राजन्‌ समकम्पन्त सैनिका:,राजन! वज्रकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान उनके धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाकी टंकारध्वनि सुनकर सब ओरके सैनिक काँपने लगे

Transliteration

tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṁ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ | niśamya sarvato rājan samakampanta sainikāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Muôn tâu Đại vương, nghe từ bốn phía tiếng dây cung của ngài vang rền—như tiếng nổ rền của lôi đình—binh sĩ khắp nơi đều run sợ.

Word by Word

तस्यof him/that (person)

ज्यातलनिर्घोषम्the loud twang of the bowstring

विस्फूर्जितम्roaring/resounding

इवas if/like

अशनेःof the thunderbolt (i.e., thunder)

निशम्यhaving heard

सर्वतःon all sides/everywhere

राजन्O king

समकम्पन्तthey trembled

सैनिकाःsoldiers

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

the King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied by address rājan)

bow (dhanus, implied)

bowstring (jyā)

thunderbolt (aśani/vajra, as simile)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the manifestation of power in war—here symbolized by the thunderbolt-like twang of a bow—tests the inner steadiness of warriors. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal: fear arises naturally, yet duty demands composure and resolve when confronted with overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that the resounding twang of a warrior’s bowstring, compared to a thunderbolt’s roar, was heard everywhere, and the soldiers on all sides began to tremble at the intimidating sound.