Shloka 20
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
तयो: समभवद् युद्ध पितु: पुत्रस्य चातुलम् । देवासुररणप्रख्यमुभयो: प्रीयमाणयो:,वे पिता और पुत्र दोनों प्रसन्न होकर लड़ रहे थे। उन दोनोंका वह युद्ध देवासुर-संग्रामके समान भयंकर जान पड़ता था। उसकी इस जगत्में कहीं भी तुलना नहीं थी
tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ pituḥ putrasya cātulam | devāsura-raṇa-prakhyam ubhayoḥ prīyamāṇayoḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then there arose a wondrous battle between father and son. As both fought with exhilaration, their combat seemed as dreadful as the legendary wars of gods and demons—an encounter without equal anywhere in the world.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic tension between familial bonds and the kṣatriya duty of combat: even a father and son can meet in a contest so intense that it evokes cosmic warfare. It also cautions that martial joy (prīyamāṇa) can magnify violence, making the scene ethically unsettling despite its heroic framing.
A fierce duel breaks out between a father and his son. Both engage eagerly, and the narrator elevates the scene by comparing it to the terrifying battles between devas and asuras, emphasizing its unmatched ferocity.