Shloka 246

Devanagari script

ततक्षतुस्तदान्योन्यं शृज्भाभ्यां वृषभाविव । जैसे दो साँड़ परस्पर सींगोंसे प्रहार करते हैं, उसी प्रकार आपसमें लाग-डाँट रखनेवाले वे दोनों वीर झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको क्षत-विक्षत करने लगे

Transliteration

tatakṣatuḥ tadā anyonyaṁ śṛṅgābhyāṁ vṛṣabhāv iva |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the two warriors struck at one another, like two bulls butting with their horns. Driven by mutual hostility, they began to wound and tear each other with their bent, knotty arrows—an image of how enmity in war turns valor into relentless mutual injury.

Word by Word

• ततक्षतुः: they two struck/hew(ed)
• ततक्षतुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तक्ष्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), Perfect (past narrative), 3rd, Dual

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अन्योन्यम्: each other (mutually)
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य

• शृङ्गाभ्याम्: with (their) horns
• शृङ्गाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• वृषभाविव: like two bulls
• वृषभाविव: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two bulls (simile)
• horns (śṛṅga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how mutual hatred (anyonyam—reciprocal hostility) escalates conflict into relentless reciprocal harm; even heroic strength, when driven by enmity, becomes a cycle of wounding rather than a path to restraint or reconciliation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two opposing warriors engaging in close, aggressive exchange—likened to two bulls clashing horns—striking each other repeatedly and inflicting injuries, emphasizing the intensity and symmetry of the duel.