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Shloka 37

कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement

तावन्योन्यं जिघांसन्तौ शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महारथौ । प्रेक्षणीयतरावास्तां वृष्टिमन्ताविवाम्बुदौ,पैने बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको मार डालनेकी इच्छावाले वे दोनों महारथी वीर वर्षा करनेवाले बादलोंके समान अत्यन्त दर्शनीय हो रहे थे

tāv anyonyaṃ jighāṃsantau śarais tīkṣṇair mahārathau | prekṣaṇīyatarāv āstāṃ vṛṣṭimantāv ivāmbudau ||

Sañjaya sprach: Diese beiden großen Wagenkrieger, jeder darauf aus, den anderen zu töten, trafen mit scharfen Pfeilen. Sie standen dort als ein höchst bewundernswertes Schauspiel—wie regenbeladene Wolken, die sich ergießen—und verkörperten den schrecklichen Glanz der Schlacht, in der Kraft und Entschlossenheit anschwellen, obwohl das Ziel gegenseitige Vernichtung ist.

तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
अन्योन्यम्each other (mutually)
अन्योन्यम्:
Karma
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्योन्य
जिघांसन्तौdesiring to kill / intending to slay
जिघांसन्तौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual, शतृ (present active participle), Present (participle)
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
तीक्ष्णैःsharp
तीक्ष्णैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतीक्ष्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
महारथौthe two great chariot-warriors
महारथौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
प्रेक्षणीयतरौmore worthy to be seen / more splendid to behold
प्रेक्षणीयतरौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रेक्षणीयतर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual, Comparative
आस्ताम्they were / they stood
आस्ताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआस्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada
वृष्टिमन्तौrain-bearing
वृष्टिमन्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृष्टिमन्त्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
इवlike / as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अम्बुदौtwo clouds
अम्बुदौ:
TypeNoun
Rootअम्बुद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
T
two mahārathas (unnamed in this verse)
A
arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the paradox of righteous-war culture: extraordinary skill and grandeur can coexist with the grim intention to kill. It invites reflection on how war can appear magnificent while remaining ethically tragic, underscoring the weight of kṣatriya-duty and the human cost of enmity.

Sañjaya describes a duel between two elite chariot-warriors who shower each other with sharp arrows, appearing like rain-bearing clouds. The focus is on the intensity and visual power of their exchange rather than naming the combatants.