Mahabharata 9.57.36 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 57, Shloka 36

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

तौ परस्परमासाद्य दंष्टाभ्यां द्विरदौ यथा

Transliteration

tau parasparam āsādya daṁṣṭābhyāṁ dviradau yathā

Translation

சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—அவர்கள் இருவரும் ஒருவரை ஒருவர் நோக்கி பாய்ந்து, நேருக்கு நேர் மோதினர்; இரண்டு பெருயானைகள் தந்தங்களைப் பூட்டி மோதுவது போல—யாரும் தளராத, மோதலே அவர்களின் உறுதியை அளக்கும் போராயிற்று.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• परस्परम्: each other / mutually
• परस्परम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

• आसाद्य: having approached / having encountered
• आसाद्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active

• दंष्टाभ्याम्: with (their) tusks
• दंष्टाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Dual

• द्विरदौ: two elephants
• द्विरदौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• यथा: as / like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two combatants (unnamed in this half-verse)
• elephants
• tusks

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle: when duty and rivalry converge, true resolve is shown by meeting the opponent directly, without retreat—symbolized by elephants that lock tusks and endure the strain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two warriors engaging at close quarters. Their encounter is compared to two elephants colliding and locking tusks, conveying the intensity, equality, and stubborn persistence of the fight.