Shloka 303

Devanagari script

नाकम्पयेतामन्योन्यं यतमानौ महाद्युती । दोनोंके अंग बाणोंके अग्रभागसे छिदकर छलनी हो रहे थे। दोनों ही एक-दूसरेको विदीर्ण कर रहे थे, तो भी वे महातेजस्वी वीर परस्पर विजयके प्रयत्नमें लगे रहे और एक- दूसरेको कम्पित न कर सके

Transliteration

nākampayetām anyonyaṃ yatamānau mahādyutī |

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。「二人の光輝ある戦士は力の限りに争ったが、互いを揺るがすことはできなかった。鋭い矢尻がその身を貫き、穴だらけにしても、なお各々は相手を裂き続け、ただ勝利のみを求めた――戦の陰鬱な規律のうちに、揺るぎなく立っていた。」

Word by Word

नnot

अकम्पयेताम्they two did not shake (could not make tremble)

अन्योन्यम्each other / mutually

यतमानौstriving, making effort

महाद्युतीthe two great-splendoured (heroes)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

ब

बाण (arrows)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under extreme suffering: even when wounded and overwhelmed by violence, the combatants do not lose composure. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s portrayal of kṣatriya-dharma—unyielding resolve and commitment to one’s martial duty—while also underscoring the tragic intensity of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a duel in which two brilliant warriors exchange volleys of arrows. Their bodies are pierced and torn, yet neither can shake the other’s stance; both continue striving for victory without faltering.