Shloka 783

Devanagari script

अयुध्येतां महाराज परस्परवधैषिणौ । सम्पूर्ण योद्धाओंके उस सम्मेलनमें वे दोनों दर्शनीय हो रहे थे। महाराज! समरभूमिमें सिद्ध, चारण और नागोंद्वारा प्रशंसित होते हुए कर्ण और अर्जुन एक-दूसरेके वधकी इच्छासे युद्ध कर रहे थे

Transliteration

ayudhyetāṃ mahārāja parasparavadhaiṣiṇau |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, those two fought, each intent on the other’s death.” In the full assembly of warriors they appeared striking to behold; and on the battlefield, praised by Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Nāgas, Karṇa and Arjuna battled with mutual resolve to slay—an image of heroic prowess bound to the grim ethic of war where fame and duty are invoked even as destruction is sought.

Word by Word

• अयुध्येताम्: the two fought
• अयुध्येताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, द्विवचन

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• परस्पर-वधैषिणौ: desiring each other's death
• परस्पर-वधैषिणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्परवधैषिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Karṇa
• Arjuna
• Siddhas
• Cāraṇas
• Nāgas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya-war ethic: even when combat is framed as duty and celebrated by celestial witnesses, its immediate reality is mutual intent to kill. It invites reflection on how dharma in war can coexist with, yet never erase, the moral gravity of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa and Arjuna are engaged in direct combat, each seeking the other’s death, and that their duel is being acclaimed by exalted beings (Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Nāgas) as a spectacular confrontation among foremost warriors.