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Shloka 266

न्यवारयेतामन्योन्यं कांस्ये निर्भिद्य वर्मणी । तदनन्तर वे दोनों वीर धनुषको पूर्णतः खींचकर छोड़े गये झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा परस्पर कांस्यनिर्मित कवचोंको छिजत्न-भिन्न करके एक-दूसरेको रोकने लगे

nyavārayetām anyonyaṁ kāṁsye nirbhidya varmaṇī |

サンジャヤは言った。「そののち二人は互いを制し合った。弓を限りなく引き絞り、節の曲がった鉤付きの矢を放って、青銅の鎧を穿ち裂き、割っては相手の進撃を阻んだ。」

न्यवारयेताम्they two restrained/checked
न्यवारयेताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवारय् (√वृ/√वार् caus.)
Formलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3, dual
अन्योन्यम्each other, mutually
अन्योन्यम्:
Karma
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्योन्य
कांस्येin/at the two bronze (armours)
कांस्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकांस्य
Formneuter, locative, dual
निर्भिद्यhaving pierced/split
निर्भिद्य:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootनिर्भिद् (नि + √भिद्)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
वर्मणीthe two armours
वर्मणी:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवर्मन्
Formneuter, accusative, dual

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)
T
two unnamed warriors (वीरौ)
B
bows (धनुष)
A
arrows (बाण)
B
bronze armour/cuirass (कांस्य-वर्म/कवच)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the kṣatriya battlefield ethic of meeting force with force: each warrior counters the other without yielding. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s sober view that in war, skill and steadfastness dominate, while moral judgment lies in the larger dharmic context of the conflict rather than in this single exchange.

Sañjaya describes two warriors drawing their bows fully and releasing barbed arrows that pierce and tear their bronze armours. By wounding and obstructing each other, they effectively ‘check’ one another’s advance in a fierce, evenly matched exchange.