Shloka 36

Devanagari script

तत्र तौ नरशार्दूलौ भीष्महेतो: परंतपौ | अन्योन्यं जध्नतुर्वीरो गोष्ठे गोवृषभाविव,जैसे गोशालामें दो साँड़ आपसमें लड़ते हों, उसी प्रकार शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले दोनों पुरुषसिंह वीर विकर्ण और नकुल भीष्मकी रक्षाके लिये एक-दूसरेपर घातक प्रहार कर रहे थे

Transliteration

tatra tau naraśārdūlau bhīṣma-hetoḥ parantapau | anyonyaṃ jadhnatuḥ vīrau goṣṭhe govṛṣabhāv iva ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: There, those two tiger-like men—both tormentors of their foes—fought for Bhīṣma’s sake, striking each other with deadly blows, like two bulls battling in a cattle-pen. The scene shows how loyalty to one’s commander and duty to one’s faction can drive even kinsmen into ruthless combat on the battlefield.

Word by Word

तत्रthere

तौthose two

नरशार्दूलौtwo tiger-like men (best of men)

भीष्महेतोःfor Bhishma's sake / for Bhishma

परंतपौtwo tormentors of foes

अन्योन्यम्each other / mutually

जघ्नतुःthey two struck/killed (each other)

वीरौtwo heroes

गोष्ठेin a cow-pen

गोवृषभाविवlike two bulls (of cattle)

इवlike/as

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Vikarṇa

Nakula

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 the tragic ethical tension of war: even noble, ‘lion-like’ kinsmen may become mutually destructive when bound by allegiance and battlefield duty. Loyalty to a leader (here, Bhīṣma) can intensify conflict, showing how dharma in war often operates through competing obligations rather than simple moral clarity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Vikarṇa and Nakula engaging in fierce, reciprocal attacks in the midst of battle, motivated by the need to defend/support Bhīṣma. Their combat is compared to two bulls fighting in a cattle-yard, emphasizing raw force and relentless rivalry.