Shloka 336

Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

विकोशौ चाप्यसी कृत्वा समरे तौ विचेरतु: । बैलके चमड़ेसे बनी हुई दो विचित्र, सुन्दर एवं विशाल ढालें लेकर और तलवारोंको म्यानसे बाहर निकालकर वे दोनों समरांगणमें विचरने लगे

Transliteration

vikośau cāpyasī kṛtvā samare tau viceratuḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Tirant leurs épées hors du fourreau et tenant leurs boucliers prêts, les deux guerriers se déplacèrent sur le champ de bataille—tendus vers le corps à corps, affichant à la fois résolution et la sombre discipline de la guerre.

Word by Word

• विकोशौ: drawn out (unsheathed)
• विकोशौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• असी: two swords
• असी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• विचेरतुः: they two roamed/moved about
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + वि-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two warriors (tau)
• swords (asī)
• battlefield (samara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of preparedness and steadiness in battle: weapons are readied without hesitation, reflecting disciplined resolve rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that two fighters have drawn their swords and, with shields at hand, are moving about the battlefield seeking engagement in close combat.