Shloka 13
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
चित्रहस्तादिकं कृत्वा कक्षाबन्धं च चक्रतुः । गलगण्डाभिघातेन सस्फुलिड्रेन चाशनिम्
citrahastādikaṃ kṛtvā kakṣābandhaṃ ca cakratuḥ | galagaṇḍābhighātena sasphuliḍreṇa cāśanim ||
Mostrando diversas fintas de lucha, como el «citra-hasta» (movimientos engañosos de las manos), intentaron el agarre llamado «kakṣābandha», metiendo ambos brazos bajo la axila o en torno a la cintura del adversario para atarlo y dominarlo. Luego golpearon cuello y mejilla con tal violencia que parecía saltar chispa, y los impactos resonaban como un rayo.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily depicts technique and intensity rather than a direct moral injunction; ethically, it illustrates how competitive display can quickly harden into violent domination, highlighting the thin line between sport and harm when force and pride escalate.
Two combatants perform deceptive hand-feints and attempt the kakṣābandha clinch to bind each other; the struggle intensifies into heavy strikes to the neck and cheek, described with imagery of sparks and thunderbolt-like sound.