Shloka 24

Devanagari script

उभौ परमसंदहृष्टौ बलेन बलिनां वरौ | अन्योन्यस्यान्तरं प्रेप्सू परस्परजयैषिणौ,बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ वे दोनों वीर अत्यन्त हर्ष एवं उत्साहमें भरे हुए थे और एक-दूसरेकी दुर्बलता या असावधानीपर दृष्टि रखते हुए परस्पर बलपूर्वक विजय पानेकी इच्छा रखते थे

Transliteration

ubhau paramasaṃdahṛṣṭau balena balināṃ varau | anyonyasyāntaraṃ prepsū parasparajayaiṣiṇau ||

Translation

Ambos, os mais eminentes entre os fortes, estavam tomados de júbilo e ardor por sua própria potência. Cada um buscava a abertura do outro—um descuido ou fraqueza—e cada um desejava vencer o rival pela força pura.

Word by Word

उभौboth

परम-संदहृष्टौexceedingly delighted

बलेनby strength

बलिनाम्of the strong (men)

वरौthe best (two)

अन्योन्यस्यof each other

अन्तरम्weak point; opening

प्रेप्सूdesiring to obtain

परस्पर-जय-एषिणौseeking victory over each other

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse portrays how the pursuit of victory can become dominated by pride in strength and a vigilant search for the opponent’s weakness. Ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between mere power-contest mentality and conduct guided by restraint, fairness, and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two powerful champions are described as highly energized and eager to defeat each other. They closely watch for any opening—any lapse or vulnerability—in the other, intending to secure victory through force.