Mahabharata 7.100.35 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 100, Shloka 35

Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ

Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement

Devanagari script

हस्तलाघवमस्त्रेषु दर्शयन्तौ महाबलौ

Transliteration

hastalāghavam astreṣu darśayantau mahābalau

Translation

Sañjaya dijo: Los dos guerreros poderosísimos mostraron una destreza de manos extraordinaria en el manejo de las armas—una maestría forjada por el adiestramiento, en medio de una guerra tan temible como cargada de peso moral.

Word by Word

• हस्तलाघवम्: dexterity of hand; sleight of hand
• हस्तलाघवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तलाघव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अस्त्रेषु: in weapons; in the use of weapons
• अस्त्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दर्शयन्तौ: showing; displaying
• दर्शयन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाबलौ: two very strong (men/warriors)
• महाबलौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two mighty warriors (unnamed in this pāda)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined mastery (hastalāghava) in the use of weapons. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such skill is admirable as a kṣatriya accomplishment, yet it also intensifies the gravity of war: excellence in violence increases responsibility for how that power is used.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a battle scene in which two powerful fighters are actively demonstrating superior weapon-handling and tactical agility, emphasizing the intensity and high level of martial expertise on the battlefield.