Shloka 26
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
प्रकर्षणाकर्षणा भ्यामनुकर्षविकर्षणै: । आचर्कर्षतुरन्योन्यं जानुभिश्वावजघ्नतु:
prakarṣaṇākarṣaṇābhyām anukarṣavikarṣaṇaiḥ | ācarakarṣatur anyonyaṃ jānubhiś cāvajaghnatuḥ ||
ते एकमेकांना जोराने ढकलत व ओढत—पुन्हा पुन्हा खेचाखेची करून—निकटच्या झटापटीत गुंतले. परस्पर प्रहारांनी अंगावर ओरखडे व जखमा झाल्या; आणि एकमेकांना पाडून गुडघ्यांनी मारत व चिरडत राहिले—स्पर्धेच्या उष्णतेने संयम ढळला होता.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked passion and rivalry can reduce even the strong to brutal, undisciplined struggle; it implicitly contrasts raw force with the ethical ideal of restraint and rule-bound conduct.
Two opponents are locked in a fierce grapple—pushing, pulling, wrenching, and dragging each other; they cause scratches and wounds, throw each other down, and strike with their knees in a relentless contest.