Shloka 20
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
तृणपीडं यथाकामं पूर्णयोगं समुष्टिकम् । एवमादीनि युद्धानि प्रकुर्वन्ती परस्परम्
tṛṇapīḍaṃ yathākāmaṃ pūrṇayogaṃ samuṣṭikam | evamādīni yuddhāni prakurvantī parasparam |
ثم شرعا، على هواهما، يطبّقان على بعضهما مسكاتٍ ومناوراتٍ مثل tṛṇapīḍa—ليّ الأطراف وعصرها كأعواد العشب التي تُفتَل لتُجعل حبلًا—وكذلك pūrṇayoga مع لكمات القبضة، بخداعٍ وتمويهٍ ثم ضربةٍ خاطفة. وهكذا اشتبكا اشتباكًا قريبًا، يختبران القوة والمهارة في نزالٍ تحكمه قسوة منطق الحلبة لا رحمة القلب.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how physical conflict quickly becomes a display of technique, feint, and force; ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between regulated contest and cruelty—how skill can be used either within restraint or as a means to intensify harm.
A close-quarters bout is underway: the fighters begin applying recognized wrestling holds and fist-strikes—twisting locks like tṛṇapīḍa and combined maneuvers (pūrṇayoga)—each countering the other in a mutual exchange of increasingly forceful techniques.