Mahabharata · 7.65.8–9
॥
Devanāgarī
ह्रादेन गजघण्टानां शङ्खानां निनदेन च ॥
ज्याक्षेपनिनदैश् चैव विरावेण च दन्तिनाम् ॥
भूर् दिशश् चान्तरिक्षं च शब्देनासीत् समावृतम् ॥
स मुहूर्तं प्रतिभयो दारुणः समपद्यत ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāṃ śaṅkhānāṃ ninadena ca ||
jyākṣepaninadaiś caiva virāveṇa ca dantinām ||
bhūr diśaś cāntarikṣaṃ ca śabdenāsīt samāvṛtam ||
sa muhūrtaṃ pratibhayo dāruṇaḥ samapadyata ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ह्रादेन गजघण्टानाम्hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāmwith the din of elephants' bells; with the rumble of elephants' bells
शङ्खानाम् निनदेन चśaṅkhānām ninadena caand the ringing of conches; and the blaring of conches
ज्याक्षेपनिनदैः च एवjyākṣepaninadaiḥ ca evaand the sounds of bowstrings drawn; and the twang of bowstrings
विरावेण च दन्तिनाम्virāveṇa ca dantināmand the roaring of elephants; and the roaring of elephants
भूः दिशः च अन्तरिक्षम् चbhūḥ diśaḥ ca antarikṣam cathe earth, the quarters, and the sky; the earth, the directions, and the heavens
शब्देन आसीत् समावृतम्śabdena āsīt samāvṛtamwere covered [filled] with sound; were filled with sound
सः मुहूर्तम् प्रतिभयःsaḥ muhūrtam pratibhayaḥthat moment terrifying; that moment terrifying
दारुणः समपद्यतdāruṇaḥ samapadyatabecame dreadful; became dreadful
Translation
With the din of elephants' bells, and the ringing of conches, and the sounds of bowstrings drawn, and the roaring of elephants, the earth, the quarters, and the sky were filled with sound. That moment became terrifying, dreadful.
Version
e783fbda1d22 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The poet piles up sound to convey the terror of the moment: «bhūr diśaḥ antarikṣaṃ ca śabdena samāvṛtam», the earth, the directions, the sky filled with din. «Pratibhayaḥ dāruṇaḥ», terrifying, dreadful — such is the moment of collision. It is telling that this whole mass of sound rises up against a single man. The verse teaches that outward terror is no guarantee of outcome: however dreadful a moment may be in its noise and appearance, it is not that but the righteousness of the sides that decides; and the roar of a multitude of elephants, turned against the righteous one, only underscores the futility of a strength that lacks dharma.