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Shloka 22

द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः

नखैरिव महाव्याप्रौ दनतैरिव महागजौ । तौ विचेरतुरासाद्य गदाग्रया भ्यां परस्परम्‌,जैसे दो बड़े व्याप्र पंजोंसे और दो विशाल हाथी दाँतोंसे आपसमें प्रहार करते हैं, उसी प्रकार भीमसेन और शल्य गदाओंके अग्रभागसे एक-दूसरेपर प्रहार करते हुए विचर रहे थे

nakhair iva mahāvyāghrau dantair iva mahāgajau | tau viceratur āsādya gadāgrābhyāṃ parasparam ||

サञ्जयは言った――二頭の猛虎が爪で打ち合うように、また二頭の巨象が牙で突き合うように、ビーマセーナとシャリヤは互いに迫り、巡り合いながら、ガダーの先端で相手を打ち据えていた。そこに映るのは戦の凄烈さであり、その瞬間を裁くのは道義の説得ではなく、力と不屈の意志であった。

नखैःwith claws
नखैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
इवas/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
महाव्याघ्रौtwo great tigers
महाव्याघ्रौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहाव्याघ्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
दन्तैःwith tusks/teeth
दन्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदन्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
इवas/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
महागजौtwo great elephants
महागजौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहागज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
विचेरतुःthey two moved about/roamed
विचेरतुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चर्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada
आसाद्यhaving approached/encountered
आसाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + सद्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
गदाग्राभ्याम्with the tips/foreparts of (their) maces
गदाग्राभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगदाग्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Dual
परस्परम्each other/mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīmasena
Ś
Śalya
G
gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the raw, impersonal force of battlefield duty: in the kṣatriya sphere, conflict can reduce to sheer power and endurance, vividly conveyed through animal similes that highlight how violence escalates when opponents are evenly matched.

Sañjaya describes Bhīmasena and Śalya closing distance and striking one another with the front ends of their maces, moving about in mutual attack, compared to tigers clawing and elephants goring.