Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तावन्योन्यं हि समरे निहत्य रथवाजिन: । विरथावभिवल्गन्तौ समेयातां महारथौ,वे दोनों महाबली समरांगणमें अपने रथके द्वारा दूसरेके रथको पीड़ा देने लगे। उन्होंने आपसमें एक-दूसरेके रथ और घोड़ोंको नष्ट कर दिया। इस प्रकार रथहीन हुए वे दोनों महारथी उछलते-कूदते हुए एक-दूसरेका सामना करने लगे

Transliteration

tāv anyonyaṃ hi samare nihatya rathavājinaḥ | virathāv abhivalgantau sameyātāṃ mahārathau ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, the two great chariot-warriors struck down each other’s chariots and horses. Deprived of their cars, they sprang forward on foot and closed with one another again—undaunted, intent on continuing the contest despite the loss of their war-gear.

Word by Word

तौthose two

अन्योन्यम्each other (mutually)

हिindeed

समरेin battle

निहत्यhaving slain/destroyed

रथchariot

वाजिनःhorses

विरथौchariotless

अभिवल्गन्तौleaping/rushing towards (each other)

समेयाताम्they two met/encountered

महारथौthe two great chariot-warriors

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

two mahārathas (unnamed in this verse)

chariots (ratha)

horses/steeds (vājinaḥ)

battlefield/combat (samara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: even when the external supports of warfare (chariot and horses) are destroyed, the fighters do not abandon the contest. Ethically, it underscores steadfastness and courage in one’s chosen duty, while also reminding the reader of war’s harsh destructiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a duel where two elite warriors destroy each other’s chariots and horses. Now chariotless (viratha), they leap forward and re-engage on foot, continuing the fight at close quarters.