Shloka 31
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ गोष्ठेष्विव महर्षभौ । वे गोशालाओंमें लड़नेवाले दो बड़े-बड़े साँड्ोंक॒ समान एक-दूसरेपर चोट करनेकी इच्छा रखते हुए अवसर ढूँढ़ते और परस्पर आँखें तरेरकर देखते थे || ३० $ ।। महागजाविवासाद्य विषाणाग्रै: परस्परम्
anyonyam abhivīkṣantau goṣṭheṣv iva maharṣabhau | mahāgajāvivāsādya viṣāṇāgraiḥ parasparam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kedua jawara perkasa itu saling menatap, laksana dua banteng agung di kandang ternak, mencari celah dengan hasrat untuk menghantam. Seperti dua gajah raksasa berhadapan, ujung-ujung tanduk/tonjolan senjata mereka bertemu dan saling menekan, masing-masing menguji kekuatan lawan—demikianlah mereka mencari keunggulan ketika kebinasaan kian mendekat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride and the urge to dominate can narrow attention to openings and advantage, turning opponents into mere targets. Ethically, it warns that when rivalry governs perception, violence escalates through mutual provocation and relentless testing of strength.
Sañjaya describes two foremost warriors confronting each other in close combat. They glare, circle, and look for a chance to strike, compared to powerful bulls in a pen and to great elephants meeting head-on with horn-tips pressed together.