Shloka 17
महाराज! धृष्टकेतुने दूसरा धनुष लेकर तिहत्तर तीखे शिलीमुख बाणोंद्वारा पौरवको गहरी चोट पहुँचायी ।। तौ तु तत्र महेष्वासौ महामात्रौ महारथौ । महता शरवर्षेण परस्परमविध्यताम्,वे दोनों महाधनुर्ध,, महाबली और महारथी वीर एक-दूसरेको युद्धमें भारी बाणवर्षाद्वारा घायल कर रहे थे
tāv tu tatra maheṣvāsau mahāmātrau mahārathau | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa parasparam avidhyatām ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Oh Rey, allí en el campo de batalla, aquellos dos—ambos grandes arqueros, jefes eminentes y los más altos guerreros de carro—no cesaban de herirse mutuamente, cada cual descargando sobre el otro una densa lluvia de flechas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfast engagement in battle—fighters meet force with force, accepting risk and injury as part of their duty—while also implicitly revealing the grim, escalating nature of warfare where mutual harm becomes the norm.
Sañjaya describes two elite warriors on the battlefield who are locked in a direct duel, repeatedly piercing each other with a powerful, continuous volley of arrows.