Shloka 13

शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement

Devanagari script

सर्वे विवृततूणीरा: प्रगृहीतशरासना: । शरासनानि धुन्वाना: सिंहनादान्‌ प्रणेदिरे,सबके तरकसोंके मुँह खुल गये, सबने हाथमें धनुष ले लिये और सभी धनुष हिलाते हुए जोर-जोरसे सिंहनाद करने लगे

Transliteration

sarve vivṛtatūṇīrāḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ | śarāsanāni dhunvānāḥ siṃhanādān praṇedire ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：众人皆敞开箭箙，牢牢执弓在手；摇动弓身，齐发震天狮吼。

Word by Word

सर्वेall

विवृततूणीरा:having opened quivers (with quiver-mouths open)

प्रगृहीतशरासना:having taken up bows

शरासनानिbows

धुन्वाना:shaking (waving)

सिंहनादान्lion-roars

प्रणेदिरेthey uttered / raised (cries)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

quivers (tūṇīra)

bows (śarāsana)

lion-roars/battle-cries (siṃhanāda)

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 external signs—opened quivers, bows in hand, and lion-roars—express collective resolve and readiness. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ethos of preparedness and courage, while also underscoring the grim momentum by which war escalates through displays of morale and intimidation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes the warriors as they prepare for combat: they open their quivers, seize their bows, brandish them, and roar like lions—signaling that the army is fully mobilized and about to engage fiercely.