Shloka 12

Devanagari script

त॑ रथं मेघसंकाशं वैयाप्रपरिवारणम्‌ । संदृश्य पाण्डुपञ्चालास्त्रस्ता ह्वासन्‌ विशाम्पते

Transliteration

taṁ rathaṁ meghasaṅkāśaṁ vaiyāpraparivāraṇam | saṁdṛśya pāṇḍupañcālāstrastā hvāsan viśāmpate prajānātha | vyāpracarmase āchāditaṁ ca meghagarjanavat gambhīraghoṣam ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Muôn tâu bậc chúa tể muôn dân, đấng trị vì loài người—khi quân Pāṇḍava và các chiến binh Pañcāla trông thấy cỗ chiến xa ấy, đen sẫm và sừng sững như mây mưa, quanh bọc bởi những tấm che và lớp da hộ vệ, lại vang tiếng gầm trầm như sấm, họ liền kinh hãi và rối loạn.

Word by Word

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मेघसंकाशम्: cloud-like, resembling a cloud
• मेघसंकाशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघसंकाश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्: having tiger-skins as coverings/guards
• वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैयाघ्रपरिवारण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संदृश्य: having seen, on seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + दृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as indeclinable gerund)

• पाण्डुपञ्चालाः: the Pāṇḍavas and the Pāñcālas
• पाण्डुपञ्चालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्रस्ताः: frightened, terrified
• त्रस्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• ह्वासन्: calling out, crying aloud
• ह्वासन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ह्वा
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pañcālas
• ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how sensory displays of power—formidable appearance, protective armor, and thunder-like sound—can destabilize the mind. In the ethical pressure of war, steadiness (dhairya) becomes as crucial as weapons; fear arises naturally, but warriors are tested by whether they can regain composure and act according to duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that the Pāṇḍavas and their Pañcāla allies see an imposing chariot, cloud-dark and roaring like thunder, covered with protective hide-guards. The sight and sound intimidate them, and they become alarmed on the battlefield.