Mahabharata · 7.58.28–29
॥
Devanāgarī
ततो मुहूर्ताद् आसीत् तु बन्दिनां निस्वनो महान् ॥
नेमिघोषश् च रथिनां खुरघोषश् च वाजिनाम् ॥
ह्रादेन गजघण्टानां शङ्खानां निनदेन च ॥
नराणां पदशब्दैश् च कम्पतीव स्म मेदिनी ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tato muhūrtād āsīt tu bandināṃ nisvano mahān ||
nemighoṣaś ca rathināṃ khuraghoṣaś ca vājinām ||
hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāṃ śaṅkhānāṃ ninadena ca ||
narāṇāṃ padaśabdaiś ca kampatīva sma medinī ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः मुहूर्तात् आसीत् तुtataḥ muhūrtāt āsīt tuthen, after a moment, there was; then, after a moment, arose
बन्दिनाम् निस्वनः महान्bandinām nisvanaḥ mahāna great clamor of bards; a great clamor of bards
नेमिघोषः च रथिनाम्nemighoṣaḥ ca rathināmand the roar of chariot-wheel rims of charioteers; and the roar of wheel-rims of chariots
खुरघोषः च वाजिनाम्khuraghoṣaḥ ca vājināmand the clatter of hooves of horses; and the clatter of hooves of horses
ह्रादेन गजघण्टानाम्hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāmwith the clanging of elephant-bells; with the clanging of elephant-bells
शङ्खानाम् निनदेन चśaṅkhānām ninadena caand the blare of conches; and the blare of conches
नराणाम् पदशब्दैः चnarāṇām padaśabdaiḥ caand with the footfall sounds of men; and with the tread of men
कम्पति इव स्म मेदिनीkampati iva sma medinīthe earth seemed to tremble; the earth seemed as though trembling
Translation
Then, after a moment, there rose a great clamor of bards, and the roar of chariot-wheel rims, and the clatter of horses' hooves; with the clanging of elephant-bells, and the blare of conches, and the footfall of men, the earth seemed to tremble.
Version
eda1cb5d3ce6 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The stillness of the morning rite gives way to the swelling roar of war: wheel-rims, hooves, elephant-bells, conches — "kampati iva sma medinī", the earth seems to tremble. It is telling that this din announces the approach of the hour of fulfilling the vow. The verse neither condemns nor praises — it reveals the inevitable: after the silence of prayer rises the noise of battle. And in this transition lies a reminder that the reverence of morning does not cancel the dreadful day but prepares the soul for it, so as to meet it not in confusion but in composure.