Mahabharata 7.78.36–38

Jayadratha-vadha-parva (The Wonder of the Invulnerable Armor)7.78.36–38

7173 / 15823

Mahabharata · 7.78.36–38

॥

Devanāgarī

ततो विस्फार्य बलवद् गाण्डीवं जघ्निवान् रिपून् ॥
महता शरवर्षेण तलशब्देन चार्जुनः ॥
पाञ्चजन्यं च बलवद् दध्मौ तारेण केशवः ॥
रजसा ध्वस्तपक्ष्मान्तः प्रस्विन्नवदनो भृशम् ॥
तस्य शङ्खस्य नादेन धनुषो निस्वनेन च ॥
निःसत्त्वाश् च ससत्त्वाश् च क्षितौ पेतुस् तदा जनाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tato visphārya balavad gāṇḍīvaṃ jaghnivān ripūn ||
mahatā śaravarṣeṇa talaśabdena cārjunaḥ ||
pāñcajanyaṃ ca balavad dadhmau tāreṇa keśavaḥ ||
rajasā dhvastapakṣmāntaḥ prasvinnavadano bhṛśam ||
tasya śaṅkhasya nādena dhanuṣo nisvanena ca ||
niḥsattvāś ca sasattvāś ca kṣitau petus tadā janāḥ ||

Word-by-word

SanskritIASTMeaning

ततः विस्फार्य बलवत्tataḥ visphārya balavatthen, having drawn with force; then, having strung with strength

गाण्डीवम् जघ्निवान् रिपून्gāṇḍīvam jaghnivān ripūnthe Gandiva, struck down the foes; the Gandiva, smote the enemies

महता शरवर्षेणmahatā śaravarṣeṇawith a great shower of arrows; with a mighty rain of arrows

तलशब्देन च अर्जुनःtalaśabdena ca arjunaḥand the slap of the bowstring, Arjuna; and the twang of the bowstring, Arjuna

पाञ्चजन्यम् च बलवत्pāñcajanyam ca balavatand into the Panchajanya with force; and into the Panchajanya with strength

दध्मौ तारेण केशवःdadhmau tāreṇa keśavaḥblew shrilly, Keshava; sounded a high note, Keshava

रजसा ध्वस्तपक्ष्मान्तःrajasā dhvastapakṣmāntaḥwith eyelashes covered in dust; with lashes powdered by dust

प्रस्विन्नवदनः भृशम्prasvinnavadanaḥ bhṛśamhis face drenched with sweat exceedingly; his face profusely sweating

तस्य शङ्खस्य नादेनtasya śaṅkhasya nādenaby the roar of that conch; by the sound of that conch

धनुषः निस्वनेन चdhanuṣaḥ nisvanena caand by the twang of the bow; and by the resonance of the bow

निःसत्त्वाः च ससत्त्वाः चniḥsattvāḥ ca sasattvāḥ caboth the strengthless and the strong; both those devoid of vigor and those full of vigor

क्षितौ पेतुः तदा जनाःkṣitau petuḥ tadā janāḥfell to the ground then, the people; the people then fell upon the earth

Translation

Then, having forcefully drawn the Gandiva, Arjuna struck down the foes with a great shower of arrows and the slap of the bowstring; and Keshava, his eyelashes covered in dust and his face drenched with sweat, blew a mighty, piercing note into the Panchajanya. From the roar of that conch and the twang of the bow, the people then fell to the ground — both the strengthless and the strong.

Commentary

"Rajasā dhvastapakṣmāntaḥ prasvinnavadanaḥ" — Keshava's eyelashes are covered in dust, his face drenched in sweat: the Lord, having taken up the human labor of a charioteer, sweats and gathers dust like a mortal. And yet the sound of His conch fells to the ground "niḥsattvāś ca sasattvāś ca" — the weak and the strong alike, without distinction. It is significant that within the visible frailty of the Incarnate One lies unconquerable power. The verse teaches that the Supreme descends into human toil and hardship without losing His omnipotence.

Version

1464006867f9 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC

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