Shloka 20

Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

समेतौ तौ महेष्वासौ शुष्मिणौ स्पर्थिनौ रणे

Transliteration

sametau tau maheṣvāsau śuṣmiṇau spardhinau raṇe

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。その二人の大弓の勇士は戦場で相まみえた——両者とも気魄は烈しく、互いに凌がんと欲し——武人の激突を燃え立たせる競争の熱に駆り立てられていた。

Word by Word

• समेतौ: having come together, met
• समेतौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समेत (सम् + इ + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महेष्वासौ: two great bowmen
• महेष्वासौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शुष्मिणौ: two spirited/impetuous (ones)
• शुष्मिणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्मिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• स्पर्धिनौ: two rivaling/contending (ones)
• स्पर्धिनौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पर्धिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the epic: martial excellence and competitive pride can intensify violence. It implicitly points to the need for restraint and right intention even within kṣatriya duty, since rivalry (spardhā) easily turns duty into ego-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two great archers coming face-to-face on the battlefield. The emphasis is on their equal prowess and their fierce, competitive resolve as they engage one another in the ongoing war.