Shloka 14
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
ततस्तु तूर्ण समरे महारथौ परस्परस्यान्तरमीक्षमाणौ । शरैर्भुशं विव्यधतुर्नुपोत्तमौ महाबलौ शत्रुभिरप्रधृष्यौ,वे दोनों महारथी समरभूमिमें एक-दूसरेपर प्रहार करनेका अवसर देख रहे थे। दोनों ही शत्रुओंके लिये अजेय, महाबलवान् तथा राजाओंमें श्रेष्ठ थे। अतः: बड़ी उतावलीके साथ बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको गहरी चोट पहुँचाने लगे
tatastu tūrṇaṃ samare mahārathau parasparasyāntaram īkṣamāṇau | śarair bhuśaṃ vivyadhatur nṛpottamau mahābalau śatrubhir apradhṛṣyau ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—তাৰ পিছত সমৰত সেই দুয়ো মহাৰথী পৰস্পৰৰ ফাঁক বিচাৰি, তৎক্ষণাৎ শৰদ্বাৰা একে-আনক বাৰে বাৰে গভীৰভাৱে বিদ্ধ কৰিবলৈ ধৰিলে। দুয়ো মহাবলী, নৃপশ্ৰেষ্ঠ আৰু শত্রুৰ বাবে অপ্রধর্ষ্য আছিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of vigilance and resolve in battle: even the greatest warriors must patiently seek the right opening (antaram) and then act decisively. It also underscores the tragic intensity of war, where excellence and power are directed toward mutual injury.
Sañjaya describes two elite chariot-warriors in a direct duel. Each watches for a moment of vulnerability in the other and, once found, both rapidly strike with volleys of arrows, wounding one another fiercely.