Shloka 556

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

राजन्नन्तरमार्गस्थौ स्थितावास्तां मुहुर्मुहुः | राजन! दोनों ही एक-दूसरेके प्रहारोंमें छिद्र ढूँढ़नेके लिये सतर्क थे। वे बारंबार छिद्रान्वेषणके मार्गमें स्थित हो छिद्र देखनेमें संलग्न रहते थे

Transliteration

rājann antaramārgasthau sthitāv āstāṃ muhur muhuḥ |

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、その二人の戦士は、突入の線上に幾度となく踏みとどまり、常に警戒して、互いの打撃のうちに隙を求め続けた。張りつめた交戦の合間、各々が弱点となる裂け目を見いだそうとしたのである。」

Word by Word

राजन्O king

अन्तरमार्गस्थौstanding in the in-between path/interval (i.e., in the opening-seeking course)

स्थितौstanding, stationed

आस्ताम्they two remained/sat

मुहुःagain and again

मुहुःrepeatedly

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Dhritarashtra (addressed as Rājan)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined vigilance of warriors: in righteous combat, success depends not only on strength but on steady attention, timing, and self-control—qualities central to kṣatriya conduct and the ethical gravity of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes two combatants who repeatedly pause in a poised stance, watching for a ‘gap’ or opening in each other’s defense, continually seeking the right moment to strike.