Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 20

Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)

Devanagari script

अद्यार्जुनभनुर्घोषं घोरं जानातु संयुगे । अस्त्राणां च बलं॑ सर्व बाद्दोश्चन बलमाहवे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

adyārjunadhanurghoṣaṃ ghoraṃ jānātu saṃyuge |

astrāṇāṃ ca balaṃ sarvaṃ bāhvoś ca balaṃ āhave ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Hôm nay, giữa trận tiền, xin để đức vua biết tiếng dây cung của Arjuna vang rền đáng sợ đến nhường nào; và xin để ngài hiểu trọn sức mạnh của vũ khí Arjuna cùng uy lực đôi tay chàng trên chiến địa.”

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य
• Form: indeclinable (time adverb)

• अर्जुन: Arjuna
• अर्जुन: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• घोषम्: sound/roar (twang)
• घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोष
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• घोरम्: terrible, dreadful
• घोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (agreeing with घोषम्)

• जानातु: let (him) know
• जानातु: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: imperative (lot), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• अस्त्राणाम्: of weapons/missiles
• अस्त्राणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: neuter, genitive, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable (conjunction)

• बलम्: strength, power
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• सर्वम्: entire, all
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular (agreeing with बलम्)

• बाह्वोः: of (his) two arms
• बाह्वोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: masculine, genitive/locative, dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable (conjunction)

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• आहवे: in battle, in combat
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'the king')
• Arjuna’s bow (Gāṇḍīva implied)
• Weapons (astra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores accountability in leadership: the king must face the consequences of war by recognizing the real power unleashed—Arjuna’s martial prowess—rather than clinging to denial or wishful thinking.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating the battle to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, urges him to realize—here and now—the terrifying sound of Arjuna’s bow and the overwhelming effectiveness of his weapons and arm-strength on the battlefield.