Shloka 2

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

Devanagari script

पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं धनुषो गाण्डिवस्य च । ध्वजं च दृष्टवा पार्थस्य सर्वान्‌ नो भयमाविशत्‌,पांचजन्यशंख और गाण्डीवधनुषका शब्द सुनकर तथा अर्जुनके ध्वजको देखकर हमारे सब सैनिकोंके मनमें भय समा गया

Transliteration

pāñcajanyasya nirghoṣaṃ dhanuṣo gāṇḍīvasya ca | dhvajaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā pārthasya sarvān no bhayam āviśat ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：听到“般遮阇尼耶”螺号的轰鸣与“甘狄婆”神弓弦响，又见阿周那的旗幡，我军诸战士心中尽皆生惧。

Word by Word

• पाञ्चजन्यस्य: of (the conch) Pāñcajanya
• पाञ्चजन्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चजन्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• निर्घोषम्: roar/sound
• निर्घोषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धनुषः: of the bow
• धनुषः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• गाण्डिवस्य: of Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डिवस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डिव
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ध्वजम्: banner/standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• पार्थस्य: of Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नः: of us/our
• नः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: First, Genitive, Plural

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आविशत्: entered/seized
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāñcajanya (conch)
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Arjuna’s banner (dhvaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-psychological dimension of warfare: dharmic resolve and the recognized symbols of a righteous warrior (conch, bow, banner) can weaken injustice by undermining its confidence. Inner strength and reputation, grounded in dharma, function as real power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces are shaken: the booming of Kṛṣṇa’s conch Pāñcajanya, the sound of Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva, and the sight of Arjuna’s banner cause fear to spread through their ranks at the outset of battle.