Shloka 20
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
तृणपीडं यथाकामं पूर्णयोगं समुष्टिकम् । एवमादीनि युद्धानि प्रकुर्वन्ती परस्परम्
tṛṇapīḍaṃ yathākāmaṃ pūrṇayogaṃ samuṣṭikam | evamādīni yuddhāni prakurvantī parasparam |
Kemudian, sesuka hati mereka, mereka mula menggunakan pegangan dan helah tempur seperti tṛṇapīḍa—memulas dan memintal anggota badan seperti rumput yang dipintal menjadi tali—serta pūrṇayoga dengan tumbukan, menggunakan tipu daya dan serangan mengejut. Demikianlah mereka bertarung rapat, menguji kekuatan dan kemahiran dalam pertandingan yang ditentukan oleh logik keras gelanggang, bukan oleh belas kasihan.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how physical conflict quickly becomes a display of technique, feint, and force; ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between regulated contest and cruelty—how skill can be used either within restraint or as a means to intensify harm.
A close-quarters bout is underway: the fighters begin applying recognized wrestling holds and fist-strikes—twisting locks like tṛṇapīḍa and combined maneuvers (pūrṇayoga)—each countering the other in a mutual exchange of increasingly forceful techniques.