Shloka 273
रथशक्तिभिरन्योन्यं विशिखैश्व ततक्षतु: । जैसे दो सिंह नखोंसे और दो महान् गजराज दाँतोंसे परस्पर प्रहार करते हैं, उसी प्रकार वे दोनों योद्धा रथशक्तियों और बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको घायल करने लगे
rathaśaktibhir anyonyaṃ viśikhaiś ca tatakṣatuḥ |
サञ्जयは語った。「二人の戦士は、戦車から投げ放つ投槍と鋭い矢とで、互いに代わる代わる打ち合い、傷を負わせ合った――爪で引き裂き合う二頭の獅子のように、あるいは牙で突き合う二頭の大象王のように。そこには、勇気と怨讐に駆られ、休むことなく害を与え合う戦の容赦なき相互性が示されていた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the reciprocal nature of warfare: once combat is joined, each side mirrors the other’s aggression. It implicitly raises the ethical tension of kṣatriya valor—courage and skill are praised, yet the outcome is mutual injury, reminding the listener of war’s inexorable cost.
Sañjaya describes a fierce duel in which two opposing warriors repeatedly wound one another using thrown spears from their chariots and volleys of arrows. Their clash is compared to lions fighting with claws and great elephants striking with tusks.