Shloka 303

Devanagari script

नाकम्पयेतामन्योन्यं यतमानौ महाद्युती । दोनोंके अंग बाणोंके अग्रभागसे छिदकर छलनी हो रहे थे। दोनों ही एक-दूसरेको विदीर्ण कर रहे थे, तो भी वे महातेजस्वी वीर परस्पर विजयके प्रयत्नमें लगे रहे और एक- दूसरेको कम्पित न कर सके

Transliteration

nākampayetām anyonyaṃ yatamānau mahādyutī |

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Obwohl die beiden strahlenden Krieger mit aller Macht rangen, vermochten sie einander nicht ins Wanken zu bringen. Selbst als ihre Körper von den scharfen Pfeilspitzen durchbohrt und durchlöchert wurden, fuhr jeder fort, den anderen zu zerreißen, einzig auf den Sieg bedacht—standhaft in der düsteren Disziplin der Schlacht.

Word by Word

नnot

अकम्पयेताम्they two did not shake (could not make tremble)

अन्योन्यम्each other / mutually

यतमानौstriving, making effort

महाद्युतीthe two great-splendoured (heroes)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

ब

बाण (arrows)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under extreme suffering: even when wounded and overwhelmed by violence, the combatants do not lose composure. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s portrayal of kṣatriya-dharma—unyielding resolve and commitment to one’s martial duty—while also underscoring the tragic intensity of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a duel in which two brilliant warriors exchange volleys of arrows. Their bodies are pierced and torn, yet neither can shake the other’s stance; both continue striving for victory without faltering.