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Shloka 20

भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal

क्रोडै: कोडानभिष्नन्तो घोणाभिश्न परस्परम्‌ | निपेतु: सहसा राजन्‌ सुवेगाभिहता भुवि,राजन! वे घोड़े महासागरमें उड़नेवाले हंसोंके समान सहसा उछले और आपके मनके समान वेगशाली अश्वोंके समुदायमें पहुँचकर छातीसे उनकी छातीमें तथा नासिकासे एक- दूसरेकी नासिकापर चोट करने लगे। वे सहसा वेगपूर्वक टकराकर पृथ्वीपर गिरते थे

sañjaya uvāca | kroḍaiḥ koḍān abhiṣṇanto ghoṇābhiś ca parasparam | nipetuḥ sahasā rājan suvegābhihatā bhuvi ||

రాజా! వారు వక్షస్థలములతో వక్షస్థలములను, ముక్కులతో ముక్కులను ఢీకొనుచు పరస్పరం ఢీకొనిరి. తమ స్వంత మహావేగపు దెబ్బతోనే వారు అకస్మాత్తుగా భూమిపై పడిపోయిరి.

क्रोडैःwith chests/breasts
क्रोडैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्रोड
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
कोडान्horses (stallions)
कोडान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकोड
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अभिष्णन्तःstriking, butting
अभिष्णन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-ष्णद्
FormPresent (Shatru), Plural, Masculine, Nominative
घोणाभिःwith snouts/noses
घोणाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootघोणा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
अभिष्णन्they struck/butted
अभिष्णन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-ष्णद्
FormImperfect, 3, Plural
परस्परम्each other, mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर
निपेतुःthey fell down
निपेतुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि-पत्
FormPerfect, 3, Plural
सहसाsuddenly, violently
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
सुवेगाभिहताःstruck with great speed
सुवेगाभिहताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुवेग-अभिहत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
भुविon the ground/earth
भुवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभू
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
K
King (Dhritarashtra, addressed as rājan)
H
horses (aśvāḥ)
E
earth/ground (bhūmi)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how in war, sheer speed and aggression can rebound upon the aggressor: uncontrolled force becomes self-destructive, reminding the listener that violence often carries its own immediate consequences.

Sanjaya describes a chaotic moment in the Kurukshetra battle where horses, rushing into opposing ranks, collide chest-to-chest and muzzle-to-muzzle, and then, overwhelmed by the impact and momentum, suddenly tumble to the ground.