Shloka 61

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

तौ समेतौ नरव्याप्रौ व्याप्राविव तरस्विनौ

Transliteration

tau sametau naravyāprau vyāprāv iva tarasvinau

Translation

Sañjaya said: Those two mighty men met in close combat—like two powerful beasts, swift and forceful—each straining with all his vigor as the battle’s fury drove them into a direct clash.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• समेतौ: having come together, met
• समेतौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-इ (समेत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• नरव्याप्रौ: two men engaged in exertion (fighters)
• नरव्याप्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरव्याप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• व्याप्रौ: active, striving
• व्याप्रौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• तरस्विनौ: two vigorous/impetuous (ones)
• तरस्विनौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting one’s opponent directly with courage and full effort, while also reminding the listener—through animal imagery—how war can reduce human conflict to raw force and instinct, raising ethical reflection on the cost of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two powerful warriors coming face-to-face in battle. Their encounter is compared to two swift, strong tigers meeting, emphasizing intensity, speed, and the ferocity of the duel.