Shloka 53

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

Devanagari script

परस्परमवेक्षेतां कालानलसमौ युधि । तयो: समागमो घोरो बभूव कटुकोदय:

Transliteration

parasparam avekṣetāṃ kālānalasamau yudhi | tayoḥ samāgamo ghoro babhūva kaṭukodayaḥ ||

Translation

قال سنجيا: في خِضَمِّ المعركة كان الاثنان يتبادلان النظر، كالموتِ والنارِ الكالانَلية التي تلتهم كلَّ شيء. وكان لقاؤهما مروِّعًا، ونهض كمنعطفٍ مُرٍّ مشؤوم—ينذر بعواقب قاسية تولد من سَعير الحرب وغضبها.

Word by Word

• परस्परम्: mutually, each other
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial)

• अवेक्षेताम्: the two looked at
• अवेक्षेताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, dual, parasmaipada

• कालानलसमौ: equal to the fire of Time (like the fire at dissolution)
• कालानलसमौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालानल-सम
• Form: Masculine, nominative, dual

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, locative, singular

• तयोः: of those two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, genitive, dual

• समागमः: encounter, meeting
• समागमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समागम
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• घोरः: terrible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• बभूव: became, was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• कटुक-उदयः: having a bitter outcome / bitter in its result
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटुक-उदय
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the two warriors (unnamed in this verse)
• Kāla (Death/Time, personified)
• Anala (Fire, personified)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how war magnifies destructive forces: when great opponents meet, the encounter can resemble impersonal powers like Death and Fire, reminding readers that violence invites harsh, bitter outcomes beyond personal rivalry.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two formidable combatants facing each other on the battlefield, exchanging intense looks before clashing; their confrontation is portrayed as terrifying and portentous, signaling a severe and painful escalation in the war.