Shloka 226
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
दहन्तौ लोचनै राजन् परस्परवधैषिणौ । राजन! क्रोधमें भरे हुए दो गजराजोंके समान एक-दूसरेके वधकी इच्छा रखनेवाले वे दोनों वीर परस्पर इस प्रकार देखने लगे, मानो नेत्रोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको भस्म कर डालेंगे
sañjaya uvāca | dahantau locanai rājān parasparavadhaiṣiṇau |
Sañjaya sprach: O König, jene beiden Helden — jeder auf den Tod des anderen bedacht — hefteten den Blick aufeinander, als wollten sie den Gegner mit ihren Augen zu Asche verbrennen. Die Szene zeigt, wie ungebändigter Zorn Tapferkeit in ein verzehrendes Feuer verwandelt und gegenseitige Vernichtung begehrenswert erscheinen lässt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral danger of krodha (anger): when it dominates, it narrows perception so that the opponent becomes only a target, and the will turns toward mutual destruction. It implicitly warns that inner fire precedes outer violence, and that self-mastery is ethically prior even amid kṣatriya conflict.
Sañjaya describes two opposing warriors facing each other in the battle, staring with such fury that it seems their gaze itself could burn. Both are portrayed as determined to kill the other, signaling an imminent clash driven by rage.