Mahabharata · 7.73.28–29
॥
Devanāgarī
सबलाकाः सखद्योताः सैरावतशतह्रदाः ॥
अदृश्यन्तोष्णपर्याये मेघानाम् इव वागुराः ॥
अपश्यन्न् अस्मदीयाश् च ते च यौधिष्ठिराः स्थिताः ॥
तद् युद्धं युयुधानस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sabalākāḥ sakhadyotāḥ sairāvataśatahradāḥ ||
adṛśyantoṣṇaparyāye meghānām iva vāgurāḥ ||
apaśyann asmadīyāś ca te ca yaudhiṣṭhirāḥ sthitāḥ ||
tad yuddhaṃ yuyudhānasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सबलाकाः सखद्योताःsabalākāḥ sakhadyotāḥwith cranes, with fireflies; with cranes, with fireflies
सैरावतशतह्रदाःsairāvataśatahradāḥwith the gleam of Airavata and hundredfold lightning-flashes; with the gleam of Airavata and lightning-flashes
अदृश्यन्त उष्णपर्यायेadṛśyanta uṣṇaparyāyewere seen in the season of heat; were seen in the season of heat
मेघानाम् इव वागुराःmeghānām iva vāgurāḥlike nets of banks of clouds; like banks of clouds
अपश्यन् अस्मदीयाः चapaśyan asmadīyāḥ cawatched, our men too; watched, our men too
ते च यौधिष्ठिराः स्थिताःte ca yaudhiṣṭhirāḥ sthitāḥand those, men of Yudhishthira, standing; and those, men of Yudhishthira, standing
तत् युद्धम् युयुधानस्यtat yuddham yuyudhānasyathat battle of Yuyudhana; that battle of Yuyudhana
द्रोणस्य च महात्मनःdroṇasya ca mahātmanaḥand of Drona, great of soul; and of Drona, mighty
Translation
With cranes, with fireflies, with the gleam of Airavata and hundredfold lightning-flashes, the armies were seen in the season of heat, like banks of clouds. Both our men and those of Yudhishthira stood watching that battle of Yuyudhana and Drona, great of soul.
Version
e0f0cacf466e · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The armies stand still, like banks of clouds with lightning-flashes, gazing in silence. Both sides -- ours and Yudhishthira's -- are said in one breath to watch with a single gaze. It is telling that this unity of the onlookers from both camps is emphasized. The verse teaches that true valor is honored by all, without regard to side: before it, friend and foe alike merge into one shared contemplation. Greatness of spirit gathers together those whom enmity has divided, for the beauty of heroism stands above quarrel.