Shloka 48
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
सायकेन सुपीतेन तीक्ष्णेन निशितेन च । तौ जघ्नतुस्तदान्योन्यं शरैर्बहुविधैर्मुधे
saayakena supītena tīkṣṇena niśitena ca | tau jaghnatus tadānyonyaṃ śarair bahuvidhair mṛdhe rājān |
তখন সেই যুদ্ধে তারা দুজনই ভালোভাবে পালিশ করা, তীক্ষ্ণ ও ধারালো সায়ক এবং নানাবিধ শর দিয়ে পরস্পরকে আঘাত করতে লাগল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim symmetry of warfare: when conflict is embraced, actions provoke immediate counteractions. It implicitly warns that martial skill and anger can lock opponents into escalating violence, where victory is pursued through relentless mutual harm.
Sañjaya describes a close exchange of archery in the battlefield: two fighters repeatedly strike one another with many varieties of sharp, well-prepared arrows, neither giving way as the duel intensifies.