Shloka 42
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
तयो राजन् भुजाघातनिग्रहप्रग्रहास्तथा । शिक्षाबलसमुद्भूता: सर्वयोधप्रहर्षणा:,राजन! उन दोनोंके भुजाओंद्वारा आघात, निग्रह (हाथ पकड़ना) और प्रग्रह (गलेमें हाथ लगाना) आदि दाँव उनकी शिक्षा और बलके अनुरूप प्रकट होकर समस्त योद्धाओंका हर्ष बढ़ा रहे थे
tayor rājan bhujāghāta-nigraha-pragrahās tathā | śikṣā-bala-samudbhūtāḥ sarva-yodha-praharṣaṇāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, between those two, the various grappling maneuvers—strikes delivered by the arms, holds and restraints, and clinches and neck-grips—arose in accordance with their training and strength, and they heightened the exhilaration of all the warriors watching. The scene underscores how disciplined skill, when turned to combat, can inflame the martial spirit of an entire host.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that combat prowess is not merely brute force: refined training (śikṣā) and strength (bala) manifest as controlled techniques. Such disciplined skill can energize and influence the morale of many, showing how mastery and display of power shape collective emotion in war.
Sañjaya describes a close-quarters contest between two fighters, focusing on wrestling-like maneuvers—arm-strikes, restraining holds, and clinches—whose execution delights and excites the surrounding warriors.