Shloka 31
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ गोष्ठेष्विव महर्षभौ । वे गोशालाओंमें लड़नेवाले दो बड़े-बड़े साँड्ोंक॒ समान एक-दूसरेपर चोट करनेकी इच्छा रखते हुए अवसर ढूँढ़ते और परस्पर आँखें तरेरकर देखते थे || ३० $ ।। महागजाविवासाद्य विषाणाग्रै: परस्परम्
anyonyam abhivīkṣantau goṣṭheṣv iva maharṣabhau | mahāgajāvivāsādya viṣāṇāgraiḥ parasparam ||
サンジャヤは言った。「二人の大勇士は、牛囲いの中の大牡牛のように互いを見据え、打ちかかる機をうかがっていた。巨象が正面から相まみえるごとく、彼らは身を押し当て、角の先を突き合わせ、互いの力を量り合う――滅びが迫ろうとも、矜持と武勇が人をして利を求めさせる、戦の相である。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride and the urge to dominate can narrow attention to openings and advantage, turning opponents into mere targets. Ethically, it warns that when rivalry governs perception, violence escalates through mutual provocation and relentless testing of strength.
Sañjaya describes two foremost warriors confronting each other in close combat. They glare, circle, and look for a chance to strike, compared to powerful bulls in a pen and to great elephants meeting head-on with horn-tips pressed together.