Shloka 27

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

तावन्योन्यं समासाद्य समरे युद्धदुर्मदौ । त्रासयेतां शरैघोरै: कृतप्रतिकृतेषिणा,वे दोनों युद्धदुर्मद वीर समरांगणमें एक-दूसरेसे टक्कर लेकर पूर्वकृत अपराधोंका बदला लेनेकी इच्छा रखते हुए भयंकर बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको भयभीत करने लगे

Transliteration

tāv anyonyaṃ samāsādya samare yuddha-durmadau | trāsayetāṃ śaraiḥ ghoraiḥ kṛta-pratikṛteṣiṇau ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Die beiden, vom Kampfesstolz berauscht, gingen im Gefecht aufeinander zu; auf Vergeltung für vergangenes Unrecht bedacht, begannen sie einander mit schrecklichen Pfeilsalven zu schrecken.

Word by Word

तौthose two (they)

अन्योन्यम्each other (mutually)

समासाद्यhaving met/closed with

समरेin battle

युद्धदुर्मदौboth maddened by fighting / battle-frenzied

त्रासयेताम्they frightened/terrified

शरैःwith arrows

घोरैःterrible, dreadful

कृतप्रतिकृतेषिणौboth seeking requital for what was done (seeking revenge)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

two warriors (unnamed in this verse)

arrows

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the urge to retaliate for past injuries can intensify violence: when combat is driven by vengeance rather than restraint and dharma, it becomes a cycle of fear and escalation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two opposing warriors meeting head-on in the battlefield and, motivated by a desire to repay earlier wrongs, showering each other with frightening arrows.