Shloka 44
राजन्! समरभूमिमें जूझते हुए उन दोनों नरश्रेष्ठोंके पारस्परिक आघातसे प्रकट होनेवाला महान् शब्द वज्र और पर्वतके टकरानेके समान भयंकर जान पड़ता था ।। द्विपाविव विषाणाग्रै: शुद्भरिव महर्षभौ । भुजयोक्त्रावबन्धैश्न शिरोभ्यां चावघातनै:,जैसे दो हाथी दाँतोंके अग्रभागसे तथा दो साँड़ सीगोंसे लड़ते हैं, उसी प्रकार वे दोनों वीर कभी भुजपाशोंसे बाँधकर, कभी सिरोंकी टक्कर लगाकर, कभी पैरोंसे खींचकर, कभी पैरमें पैर लपेटकर, कभी तोमर-प्रहारके समान ताल ठोंककर, कभी अंकुश गड़ानेके समान एक-दूसरेको नोचकर, कभी पादबन्ध, उदरबन्ध, उद्भ्रमणःर, गतः, प्रत्यागतः॑, आक्षेपर%ँ, पातनः, उत्थान और संप्लुत* आदि दावोंका प्रदर्शन करते हुए वे दोनों महामनस्वी कुरु और सात्वतवंशके प्रमुख वीर परस्पर युद्ध कर रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | rājan! samarabhūmau yudhyatoḥ tayoḥ ubhayor narāgraṇyoḥ parasparāghātāt prādurbhūto mahān śabdo vajra-parvata-saṅghaṭṭa-samo bhīṣaṇa iva pratibhāti sma || dvipāv iva viṣāṇāgraiḥ śṛṅgibhir iva mahāṛṣabhau | bhujayoktrāvabandhaiś ca śirobhyāṃ cāvaghātanaiḥ pādākarṣaṇaiḥ pādapāśaiś ca | tomaraprahāra-sadṛśaṃ tālaṃ tāḍayantaḥ aṅkuśa-niveśa-sadṛśaṃ parasparaṃ nakhair iva kṣipantaḥ | pādabandha-udarabandha-udbhramaṇa-gati-pratyāgati-ākṣepa-pātana-utthāna-samplutādīn dāvān pradarśayantaḥ | kurūṇāṃ sātvata-vaṃśasya ca pradhānau mahāmanasau vīrau parasparaṃ yuddham akurvatām ||
Sañjaya said: O King, as those two foremost of men grappled on the battlefield, the tremendous sound born of their mutual blows seemed terrifying—like a thunderbolt crashing against a mountain. Like two elephants clashing with the tips of their tusks, or like two great bulls locking horns, the two heroes fought in close combat: now binding each other with arm-locks, now butting with their heads, now dragging with their feet, now entwining leg with leg; now striking their palms like the impact of a spear, now tearing at one another as though driving in a goad. Displaying the wrestler’s holds and maneuvers—foot-locks, waist-locks, whirling turns, advances and retreats, throws, takedowns, rises, and leaps—the high-souled champions, chief among the Kurus and the Sātvatas, battled each other without yielding.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the intensity and discipline of heroic combat: even amid violence, the warriors follow recognized forms of engagement (locks, throws, advances/retreats). It underscores how power must be governed by skill and code, while also reminding the listener of war’s terrifying, dehumanizing force.
Sañjaya describes two leading champions—one foremost among the Kurus and one foremost among the Sātvatas—fighting at very close range. Their blows thunder like a thunderbolt striking a mountain, and they employ wrestling-style holds, head-butts, leg entanglements, throws, takedowns, and leaps in a fierce duel.