Shloka 10

अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुशस्त्रौ समीयतु: । वीरौ परमसंहृष्टावन्योन्यजयकड्क्षिणौ,फिर तो मनुष्योंमें सिंहके समान पराक्रमी वे दोनों वीर अत्यन्त हर्ष और उत्साहमें भरकर एक-दूसरेको जीतनेकी इच्छासे अपनी भुजाओंसे ही आयुधका काम लेते हुए परस्पर भिड़ गये

Transliteration

tatastau naraśārdūlau bāhuśastrau samīyataḥ | vīrau paramasaṁhṛṣṭāv anyonyajayakāṅkṣiṇau ||

Translation

Then those two heroes, lion-like among men, closed in upon each other, using their own arms as weapons. Exultant and fiercely eager for victory over one another, they grappled in combat.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तौthose two

नरशार्दूलौtwo tiger-like men (best of men)

बाहुशस्त्रौhaving arms as weapons / using arms as weapons

समीयतुःthey two came together / engaged

वीरौtwo heroes

परमसंहृष्टौexceedingly delighted / highly exhilarated

अन्योन्यmutually, each other

जयvictory

काङ्क्षिणौdesiring

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrīkṛṣṇa (as speaker)

two unnamed heroes/warriors

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 how the drive for victory (jaya-kāṅkṣā) can intensify conflict: exhilaration and pride in strength push opponents into direct confrontation, reminding readers that unchecked competitive impulse can override restraint and lead to escalation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two mighty, lion-like warriors rush together and begin fighting at close quarters, treating their own arms as weapons, each thrilled and intent on defeating the other.