Shloka 25
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिश्वैव निघ्नन्तावितरेतरम् । प्रकर्षणाकर्षणयोरभ्याकर्षविकर्षणै:
muṣṭibhir jānubhiś caiva nighnantāv itaretaram | prakarṣaṇākarṣaṇayor abhyākarṣa-vikarṣaṇaiḥ ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಅವರು ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ಮುಷ್ಟಿಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಮೊಣಕಾಲುಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಹೊಡೆತ ನೀಡತೊಡಗಿದರು. ಎಳೆತ-ತಳ್ಳಾಟದ ಕುಸ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಹತ್ತಿರಕ್ಕೆ ಎಳೆದು, ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ದೂರಕ್ಕೆ ತಳ್ಳಿ; ಎದುರಾಳಿಯ ಸಮತೋಲನ ಕೆಡಿಸಿ ನೆಲಕ್ಕುರುಳಿಸುವುದೇ ಅವರ ಗುರಿಯಾಯಿತು.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the raw mechanics of violent rivalry—mutual striking and grappling—implicitly inviting reflection on restraint and dharma: physical power without ethical governance becomes mere domination.
Two combatants are locked in a close fight, hitting with fists and knees while alternately pulling each other in, pushing away, and trying to throw the other down through grappling maneuvers.