Mahabharata 4.13.29 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 29
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
शलाकानखपातैश्न पादोदधूतैश्न दारुणै: । जानुभिश्नचाश्मनिर्घोषै: शिरोभि श्चावघट्टनै:
śalākā-nakha-pātaiś ca pādod-dhūtaiś ca dāruṇaiḥ | jānubhiś ca aśma-nirghoṣaiḥ śirobhiś cāvaghaṭṭanaiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In their fury they clawed at one another with sharp nails like spikes; they tripped and threw each other down with harsh, sweeping kicks; and they struck with knees and butting heads, producing a dreadful crash like stones colliding—an image of combat driven by anger rather than restraint.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (roṣa) degrades conduct into brutal, uncontrolled violence; it implicitly contrasts such rage-driven fighting with the ideal of disciplined strength and self-restraint expected in dharmic behavior.
A fierce hand-to-hand struggle is being described: the fighters claw with nails, trip and throw with their feet, and collide with knees and heads, creating a terrifying sound like stones striking together.
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