Mahabharata · 7.19.15–16
॥
Devanāgarī
द्रोणेन विहितो व्यूहः पदात्यश्वरथद्विपैः ॥
वातोद्धूतार्णवाकारः प्रवृत्त इव लक्ष्यते ॥
तस्य पक्षप्रपक्षेभ्यो निष्पतन्ति युयुत्सवः ॥
सविद्युत्स्तनिता मेघाः सर्वदिग्भ्य इवोष्णगे ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
droṇena vihito vyūhaḥ padātyaśvarathadvipaiḥ ||
vātoddhūtārṇavākāraḥ pravṛtta iva lakṣyate ||
tasya pakṣaprapakṣebhyo niṣpatanti yuyutsavaḥ ||
savidyutstanitā meghāḥ sarvadigbhya ivoṣṇage ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
द्रोणेनdroṇenaby Drona; [by] Drona himself
विहितःvihitaḥarrayed [set up]; built
व्यूहःvyūhaḥformation; [that] formation
पदात्यश्वरथद्विपैःpadātyaśvarathadvipaiḥof infantry, horse, chariots, and elephants; [composed] of foot, horse, chariots, and elephants
वातोद्धूतार्णवाकारःvātoddhūtārṇavākāraḥappearing like an ocean churned by the wind; in aspect like an ocean whipped by the wind
प्रवृत्तःpravṛttaḥset in motion [surging]; set in motion
इवivaas if [like]; just as
लक्ष्यतेlakṣyateappeared [was seen]; appeared [to the eye]
तस्यtasyaits; [that formation's]
पक्षप्रपक्षेभ्यःpakṣaprapakṣebhyaḥfrom its wings and sub-wings; from wings and sub-wings
निष्पतन्तिniṣpatantiburst forth [rushed out]; burst forth
युयुत्सवःyuyutsavaḥthose eager for battle; those craving battle
सविद्युत्स्तनिताःsavidyutstanitāḥwith lightning and thunder; [with] lightning and thunder
मेघाःmeghāḥclouds; [like] clouds
सर्वदिग्भ्यःsarvadigbhyaḥfrom all directions [all quarters of the sky]; from all directions
इवivaas if [like]; just as
उष्णगेuṣṇagein the hot season [summer]; in the season of heat
Translation
The formation, arrayed by Drona out of infantry, horse, chariots, and elephants, appeared to the eye like an ocean whipped by the wind, surging into motion. From its wings and sub-wings burst forth those craving battle — like clouds with lightning and thunder, [coming] from all directions in the season of heat.
Version
32d77d9597b1 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:00:04 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The formation is likened to a churned ocean and to thunderclouds in the heat of summer — images of an elemental force, fearsome and unruly. Already in this comparison sounds a foreboding: what has been whipped up like a storm knows no restraint and turns upon everything without distinction. It is telling that the army's might is shown not as ordered strength but as a raging of the elements, ready to swallow even its own. The verse teaches that a mass of men, weapons, and fury gathered as one is like a storm easier to raise than to direct; that within its very vastness lurks disorder; and that fearsome greatness, lacking a righteous measure, is not strength but a natural disaster, fraught with ruin for all it draws into its whirlpool.