Shloka 35

Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ

Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement

Devanagari script

हस्तलाघवमस्त्रेषु दर्शयन्तौ महाबलौ

Transliteration

hastalāghavam astreṣu darśayantau mahābalau

Translation

संजय उवाच—तौ महाबलौ योधौ रणमध्येऽस्त्रेषु हस्तलाघवं दर्शयन्तौ विचेरतुः।

Word by Word

• हस्तलाघवम्: dexterity of hand; sleight of hand
• हस्तलाघवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तलाघव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अस्त्रेषु: in weapons; in the use of weapons
• अस्त्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दर्शयन्तौ: showing; displaying
• दर्शयन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाबलौ: two very strong (men/warriors)
• महाबलौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two mighty warriors (unnamed in this pāda)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined mastery (hastalāghava) in the use of weapons. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such skill is admirable as a kṣatriya accomplishment, yet it also intensifies the gravity of war: excellence in violence increases responsibility for how that power is used.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a battle scene in which two powerful fighters are actively demonstrating superior weapon-handling and tactical agility, emphasizing the intensity and high level of martial expertise on the battlefield.