Shloka 29

Devanagari script

सर्वे कामा: पाण्डव ते समृद्धा: कपिहसौ दृश्यते हस्तिसैन्ये । नीलाद घनाद्‌ विद्युतमुच्चरन्तीं तथा पश्य विस्फुरन्तीं धनुज्याम्‌

Transliteration

sarve kāmāḥ pāṇḍava te samṛddhāḥ kapihasau dṛśyate hastisainye | nīlād ghanād vidyutam uccarantīṃ tathā paśya visphurantīṃ dhanujyām ||

Translation

Viśoka nói: “Hỡi Pāṇḍava, mọi ước nguyện của ngươi đều đang thịnh đạt. Giữa đoàn tượng binh, lá cờ mang dấu Hanumān hiện rõ. Hãy nhìn dây cung lóe sáng—như tia chớp bật ra từ đám mây xanh thẫm—rung lên và lấp lánh khi được kéo căng.”

Word by Word

सर्वेall

कामाःdesires, wishes

पाण्डवO Pāṇḍava

तेto you

समृद्धाःfulfilled, prospered

कपिहसौKapi-dhvaja (Arjuna, 'he with the monkey-banner')

दृश्यतेis seen, appears

हस्तिसैन्येin the elephant-army

नीलात्from (something) dark-blue/black

घनात्from a cloud

विद्युतम्lightning

उच्चरन्तीम्uttering forth, flashing forth

तथाthus, likewise

पश्यsee, behold

विस्फुरन्तीम्quivering, flashing, vibrating

धनुज्याम्the bowstring

Speaker

विशोक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Viśoka

Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)

Hanumān (monkey-emblem on the banner)

elephant-corps (hastisainya)

bowstring (dhanujyā)

cloud (ghana)

lightning (vidyut)

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 underscores how righteous confidence in battle is strengthened by auspicious signs and steadfast preparedness: visible symbols of support (the Hanumān-emblem) and disciplined readiness (the taut, flashing bowstring) reinforce courage and resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Viśoka addresses Arjuna on the battlefield, pointing out favorable indications: Arjuna’s chariot-banner bearing Hanumān is clearly visible amid the elephant formations, and Arjuna’s bowstring is seen vibrating and gleaming like lightning from a dark cloud—signaling imminent, forceful action.