Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 16

काकोपमोपदेशः

The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa

सिंहाविव सुसंरब्धौ परस्परजिगीषया । जघध्नतुस्तौ रणे<न्योन्यं नर्दमानौ वृषाविव,परस्पर विजयकी इच्छासे रोषमें भरे हुए दो सिंहोंके समान दहाड़ते अथवा दो साँड़ोंके समान गरजते हुए वे रणभूमिमें एक-दूसरेपर चोट करते थे

sañjaya uvāca | siṃhāv iva susaṃrabdhau parasparajigīṣayā | jaghnatuḥ tau raṇe 'nyonyaṃ nardamānau vṛṣāv iva |

Dijo Sañjaya: Encendidos por un ardor feroz y movidos por el deseo de vencerse mutuamente, ambos se golpeaban una y otra vez en la batalla—rugiendo como leones, bramando como dos toros.

सिंहौtwo lions
सिंहौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसिंह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
सुसंरब्धौhighly enraged/agitated
सुसंरब्धौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुसंरब्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
परस्परजिगीषयाby mutual desire to conquer
परस्परजिगीषया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपरस्पर-जिगीषा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
जघ्नतुḥthey two struck/slew
जघ्नतुḥ:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अन्योन्यम्each other (mutually)
अन्योन्यम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअन्योन्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, adverbial accusative
नर्दमानौroaring
नर्दमानौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनर्दमान
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
वृषौtwo bulls
वृषौ:
TypeNoun
Rootवृष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how the craving for victory (jigīṣā) coupled with anger (saṃrambha) intensifies conflict: when triumph becomes paramount, combatants may abandon moderation, and the battlefield amplifies raw rivalry rather than reflective dharma.

Sañjaya describes two opposing warriors locked in close combat, repeatedly striking one another in the midst of battle, roaring like lions and bellowing like bulls—an image of evenly matched, furious confrontation.