Shloka 54
मैत्रेयागमनम् — The Arrival of Maitreya and the Admonition to Duryodhana
तयोरासीत् सुतुमुल: सम्प्रहार: सुदारुण: । नखदंष्टायुधवतोर्व्याच्रयोरिव दृप्तयो:,नख और दाढ़ोंसे ही आयुधका काम लेनेवाले दो उन्मत्त व्याप्रोंकी भाँति उन दोनोंमें अत्यन्त भयंकर एवं घमासान युद्ध छिड़ा हुआ था
tayor āsīt sutumulaḥ samprahāraḥ sudāruṇaḥ | nakhadaṃṣṭāyudhavator vyāghrayor iva dṛptayoḥ ||
Zwischen den beiden erhob sich ein überaus stürmischer, grausamer Zusammenprall. Wie zwei rasende Tiger, stolz und von Wut berauscht, die ihre Krallen und Zähne zu Waffen machen, fielen sie in wildem Nahkampf übereinander her.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the tiger-simile to warn that when pride and fury dominate, conflict becomes brutal and indiscriminate—strength turns into mere instrumentality of harm. Ethically, it points toward the dharmic need for restraint (dama) and humility, without which even the powerful descend into destructive frenzy.
Vidura describes a ferocious hand-to-hand clash between two opponents. The fight is so close and savage that it is compared to two maddened tigers relying on claws and fangs—emphasizing the intensity and cruelty of the encounter.