Shloka 30

Devanagari script

तद्‌ युद्धमभवद्‌ घोरमशस्त्रं बाहुतेजसा । बलप्राणेन शूराणां समाजोत्सवसंनिधौ

Transliteration

tad yuddham abhavad ghoram aśastraṃ bāhu-tejasā | bala-prāṇena śūrāṇāṃ samājotsava-sannidhau ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then there arose a dreadful combat—weaponless, driven only by the blazing strength of their arms and the life-force of the heroes—unfolding in the very presence of the assembled crowd, as though at a public festival.

Word by Word

तत्that

युद्धम्battle

अभवत्became/was

घोरम्terrible

अशस्त्रम्without weapons, unarmed

बाहुतेजसाby the might/energy of (their) arms

बलप्राणेनby strength and life-breath/vitality

शूराणाम्of the heroes

समाजोत्सवसंनिधौin the presence of the assembly/festival gathering

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

samāja (assembly/crowd)

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 the ethical danger of valor becoming mere display: even without weapons, pride, reputation, and the pressure of an audience can intensify conflict into something ‘ghora’ (terrible). It invites reflection on restraint (dama) and responsibility in public settings, where social approval can fuel harmful action.

What is happening in the narrative?

A fierce fight breaks out, notably without weapons—driven by sheer arm-strength and the vital energy of the warriors—while an assembled crowd looks on, as if the combat were occurring amid a festive public gathering.