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Shloka 37

Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)

केशाकेश्यभवद्‌ युद्ध रक्षसां वानरै: सह । न्खैर्दन्तश्न वीराणां खादतां वै परस्परम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ वीर राक्षसोंका वानरोंके साथ सिरके बाल पकड़कर युद्ध होने लगा। वे नखों और दाँतोंसे भी एक-दूसरेको काट खाते थे

keśākeśy abhavad yuddhaṃ rakṣasāṃ vānaraiḥ saha | nakhair dantaś ca vīrāṇāṃ khādatāṃ vai parasparam ||

قال ماركانديّا: «ثم تحولت المعركة بين الرākṣasa والڤانارا إلى عراكٍ وحشيّ، يتجاذبون فيه الشعر. وأولئك المقاتلون الأبطال، وقد أضرمتهم الحمية، مزّق بعضهم بعضًا بالأظفار والأسنان، وكلٌّ يسعى لقهر الآخر».

केशाकेशिin hair-to-hair (grappling by the hair)
केशाकेशि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकेश + केशिन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अभवत्was / happened
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect, 3, Singular
युद्धम्battle
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
रक्षसाम्of the rakshasas
रक्षसाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
वानरैःwith/by the monkeys
वानरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवानर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सहtogether with
सह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
नखैःwith nails/claws
नखैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
दन्तैःwith teeth
दन्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदन्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वीराणाम्of the heroes/warriors
वीराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
खादताम्of (those) biting/eating
खादताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootखाद्
FormPresent active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
परस्परम्each other / mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

M
Mārkaṇḍeya
R
rākṣasas
V
vānaras
K
keśa (hair)
N
nakha (nails/claws)
D
danta (teeth)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how unchecked rage in war can reduce even ‘heroes’ to animal-like brutality, reminding the listener that valor without restraint easily slips into cruelty—an implicit ethical warning within the epic’s depiction of conflict.

Mārkaṇḍeya describes the fight escalating into close-quarters grappling: rākṣasas and vānaras seize each other by the hair and, in the frenzy of combat, bite and claw one another.