Shloka 55

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ भृशसंक्रुद्धौ प्रध्माय सलिलोद्धवौ । समाहूय तदान्योन्यं भर्त्सयन्ती समीयतु:,फिर वे दोनों वीर अत्यन्त कुपित हो शंख बजाकर एक-दूसरेको ललकारते और फटकारते हुए परस्पर भिड़ गये

Transliteration

tatas tau bhṛśa-saṅkruddhau pradhmāya śaliloddhavau | samāhūya tadānyonyaṃ bhartsayantī samīyatuḥ ||

Translation

Then those two heroes, fiercely enraged, blew their conches—born of the waters—and, calling each other out, hurling taunts and rebukes, closed in and engaged one another in combat. The scene underscores how wrath and pride, once inflamed, drive warriors from challenge and speech into direct violence on the battlefield.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

तौthose two

भृशम्exceedingly

संक्रुद्धौenraged

प्रध्मायhaving blown (a conch)

सलिलोद्धवौwater-born (conches)

समाहूयhaving challenged

तदाthen

अन्योन्यम्each other

भर्त्सयन्तौrebuking/taunting

समीयतुःthey came together/engaged

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Two unnamed warriors (tau)

Conch shells (śaṅkha implied; śaliloddhavau)

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 how anger and mutual provocation rapidly convert speech—challenges, taunts, and rebukes—into physical confrontation. Ethically, it cautions that unchecked krodha (wrath) narrows judgment and accelerates violence, even among valorous warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two opposing heroes who, in great fury, sound their conches and openly challenge one another. After exchanging harsh words, they advance and clash, marking the start or intensification of a direct duel.