Shloka 45
अन्योन्यं हि रणे शूरा: केशेष्वाक्षिप्प मानिन: । नखदन्तैरयुध्यन्त मुष्टिभिजनुभिस्तथा,कितने ही मानी शूरवीर उस रफणक्षेत्रमें एक-दूसरेके केश पकड़कर नखों, दाँतों, मुक्कों और घुटनोंसे प्रहार करते हुए लड़ रहे थे
anyonyam hi raṇe śūrāḥ keśeṣv ākṣipya māninaḥ | nakhadantair ayudhyanta muṣṭibhī janubhis tathā ||
अन्योन्यं हि रणे शूराः केशेष्वाक्षिप्य मानिनः । नखदन्तैरयुध्यन्त मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिस्तथा ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride (māna) and rage can erode the norms of righteous combat, pushing warriors from weapon-based, rule-governed fighting into uncontrolled physical brutality—serving as an ethical warning about the degradation of conduct in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that on the battlefield warriors closed in on each other, grabbed hair, and fought at close quarters using nails, teeth, fists, and knees—indicating intense, chaotic hand-to-hand combat.