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

三阇耶说道：大王啊，从四面八方听到他弓弦的轰然震响——宛如霹雳雷霆的爆裂咆哮——士卒们便在各处战栗起来。

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.