Shloka 11

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

समागम्य ततो भूयो भ्रातरौ बलिनां वरौ । अन्योन्यस्यान्तरप्रेप्सू प्रचक्राते$न्तरं प्रति

Transliteration

samāgamya tato bhūyo bhrātarau balināṃ varau | anyonyasyāntaraprepsū pracakrāte 'ntaraṃ prati ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。やがて、剛勇の中でも随一のその二人の兄弟は、再び戦いに相まみえた。互いの隙を求めて、身構えを変え、間合いを測りつつ巡り、決定の一撃を放つべき脆い一瞬を探った。

Word by Word

• समागम्य: having met / having come together
• समागम्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (गम्)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाल (absolutive)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• भूयः: again / once more
• भूयः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्

• भ्रातरौ: the two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• बलिनाम्: of the strong (men)
• बलिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरौ: the best / excellent (two)
• वरौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अन्योन्यस्य: of each other
• अन्योन्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तर: an opening / gap / vulnerable point
• अन्तर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रेप्सू: desiring to obtain / seeking
• प्रेप्सू: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (आप्) / प्रेप्सु (इच्छार्थक)
• Form: उणादि/इच्छार्थक -सु (प्रेप्सु), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• प्रचक्राते: they maneuvered / they made (moves)
• प्रचक्राते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्र्/चक्र (चक्र् = to move/turn; periphrastic perfect of कृ/चर-type usage)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद/आत्मनेपद-रूप; here ātmanepada), Third, Dual, Ātmanepada

• अन्तरम्: an opening / gap
• अन्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards / against / with regard to
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two brothers (unnamed in this verse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even among the strongest, success in battle (and by extension in difficult duties) depends on vigilance, timing, and disciplined maneuvering—seeking the right moment rather than relying on raw force alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two brother-warriors meet again and, instead of immediately striking, they maneuver and circle, each watching for the other’s mistake or opening (antara) to land an effective blow.