Shloka 22

Devanagari script

खड्गप्रहरणे युक्ता: सम्पाते चासिचर्मणो: । शूराश्व कृतविद्याश्च स्पर्थन्ते च परस्परम्‌,“तलवार चलानेका भी इन्हें अच्छा अभ्यास है। ये ढाल, तलवार लेकर विचरनेमें समर्थ हैं। शूर और अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके विद्वान होनेके साथ ही परस्पर स्पर्धा रखते हैं

Transliteration

khaḍgapraharaṇe yuktāḥ sampāte cāsicarmaṇoḥ | śūrāśva kṛtavidyāś ca spardhante ca parasparam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “They are well-trained in striking with the sword, and skilled in the close engagement of sword and shield. Brave and thoroughly instructed in the arts of weapons, they vie with one another in martial rivalry.”

Word by Word

खड्गप्रहरणेin sword-striking / in swordsmanship

युक्ताःskilled, engaged, trained

सम्पातेin the encounter/close-combat onset

चand

असिचर्मणोःof sword and shield

शूराःbrave (men)

चand

अश्वकृतविद्याःtrained in horsemanship / skilled with horses

चand

स्पर्धन्तेthey compete

चand

परस्परम्mutually, with one another

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

sword (khaḍga/asi)

shield (carmaṇ)

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 disciplined martial competence joined with competitive spirit: warriors are expected to master their craft (vidyā) and display courage, yet the same rivalry that sharpens skill also fuels the intensity of war—an ethical reminder that training and valor serve dharma only when rightly directed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the fighters as expertly trained in swordplay and in the press of sword-and-shield combat, portraying them as brave, well-instructed warriors who actively compete against each other on the battlefield.