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Shloka 32

द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā

Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata

निर्दहन्तौ महाराज श्त्रवृष्ट्या परस्परम्‌

nirdahantau mahārāja śastravṛṣṭyā parasparam

Sañjaya sprach: O König, die beiden Krieger schienen einander zu verbrennen, indem sie sich gegenseitig mit einem Regen von Waffen überschütteten. Die Zeile macht deutlich, wie die Wut der Schlacht kriegerische Kunst in wechselseitige Vernichtung verwandelt, wenn Tapferkeit und Zorn jede Selbstbeherrschung überdecken.

निर्दहन्तौthe two are burning/consuming
निर्दहन्तौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनिर्दह् (नि + दह्)
Formलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम, द्विवचनम्
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्
शस्त्रवृष्ट्याwith a shower of weapons
शस्त्रवृष्ट्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्रवृष्टि
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनम्
परस्परम्each other / mutually
परस्परम्:
Karma
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical cost of unchecked martial fury: when combat becomes a mutual ‘burning,’ skill serves destruction rather than dharma, reminding the listener that war’s momentum can overwhelm restraint and compassion.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that two opposing fighters are locked in an intense exchange, pelting each other with weapons like a torrential rain, each trying to overpower and ‘consume’ the other.