Shloka 30
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
तावुभौ बलसम्पन्नौ निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणौ । निस्त्रिंशाभ्यां सुतीक्ष्णा भ्यामन्योन्यं संततक्षतु:,वे दोनों ही बलवान् थे। दोनोंने ही उत्तम खड़ग धारण कर रखे थे। अतः अपनी उन अत्यन्त तीखी तलवारोंसे वे एक-दूसरेको काटने लगे
tāv ubhau balasampannau nistriṁśavaradhāriṇau | nistriṁśābhyāṁ sutīkṣṇābhyām anyonyaṁ saṁtatakṣatuḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Tous deux étaient pourvus d’une grande force, chacun portant une épée d’excellence. De ces lames d’une acuité extrême, ils se frappaient et se tailladaient l’un l’autre sans relâche.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the momentum of battle: when equally strong warriors meet with sharp weapons, conflict escalates through mutual retaliation. Ethically, it underscores how martial skill and duty can propel violence forward, demanding vigilance about the costs of war even when fought within kṣatriya norms.
Sañjaya describes two powerful combatants, both armed with excellent swords, repeatedly cutting at each other with very sharp blades—an intense close-quarters duel.