Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 25

Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana

The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint

Devanagari script

आधुन्वन्तो गदे घोरे चन्दनागरुरूषिते । वैरस्यान्तं परीप्सन्तौ रणे क्रुद्धाविवान्तकौ

Transliteration

ādhunvantau gade ghore candanāgarurūṣite | vairasyāntaṃ parīpsantau raṇe kruddhāv ivāntakau ||

Translation

Wielding their dreadful maces, anointed with sandal and aloe, the two heroes—intent on bringing their enmity to an end—whirled them on the battlefield, appearing like Death itself in wrath.

Word by Word

• आधुन्वन्तौ: shaking/whirling
• आधुन्वन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन्वत् (धू धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• गदे: maces
• गदे: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Dual

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Dual

• चन्दनागरुरूषिते: scented/imbued with sandal and agaru
• चन्दनागरुरूषिते: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन + अगुरु + ऊषित
• Form: क्त (भूतकृदन्त) from वस्/उष् (to dwell/be perfumed), used adjectivally, Feminine, Accusative, Dual

• वैरस्य: of enmity
• वैरस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैर
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तम्: end
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परीप्सन्तौ: desiring to obtain/bring about
• परीप्सन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: परीप्सत् (आप् धातु, desiderative: ईप्स्)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• क्रुद्धौ: enraged
• क्रुद्धौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृध् धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त (भूतकृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अन्तकौ: two Deaths (Yama-like)
• अन्तकौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (speaker)
• gadā (mace)
• candana (sandalwood)
• aguru (aloewood/perfume)
• Antaka (Death/Yama as a simile)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the pursuit of ending enmity through sheer force can transform warriors into embodiments of destruction; it cautions that anger and vengeance, even in a righteous war, can eclipse restraint and dharmic intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two enraged heroes on the battlefield whirl their fearsome maces, perfumed with sandal and aguru, determined to finish their feud; their furious appearance is compared to Antaka (Death) itself.