Shloka 26

Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ

The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges

Devanagari script

स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली

Transliteration

sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī

Translation

桑阇耶说道：那强勇之士张开巨弓，宛如释迦罗（因陀罗）之弓，使之铮然作响，以示备战之决意。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विस्फार्य: having stretched (drawn)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√स्फुर्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शक्रचापोपमम्: like Indra's bow (rainbow)
• शक्रचापोपमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र-चाप-उपम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बली: the strong one
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śakra (Indra)
• bow (cāpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of resolve and preparedness: the warrior’s act of drawing the bow is not mere display, but a public commitment to face the consequences of battle with steadfast courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a powerful fighter draws and stretches a great bow, likened to Indra’s bow, producing the characteristic twang that marks readiness and signals the onset or intensification of combat.