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Shloka 20

अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute

तृणपीडं यथाकामं पूर्णयोगं समुष्टिकम्‌ । एवमादीनि युद्धानि प्रकुर्वन्ती परस्परम्‌,तदनन्तर वे अपनी इच्छाके अनुसार “तृणपीड” (रस्सी बनानेके लिये बटे जानेवाले तिनकोंकी भाँति हाथ-पैर आदिको ऐंठना) तथा मुष्टिकाघातसहित पूर्णयोग (मुक्केकी एक अंगमें मारनेकी चेष्टा दिखाकर दूसरे अंगमें आघात करना) आदि युद्धके दाँव-पेंचोंका प्रयोग एक-दूसरेपर करने लगे

tṛṇapīḍaṃ yathākāmaṃ pūrṇayogaṃ samuṣṭikam | evamādīni yuddhāni prakurvantī parasparam |

จากนั้นพวกเขาใช้ท่าตามใจชอบ เช่น “ตฤณปีฑะ” คือบิดงอแขนขาเหมือนฟั่นเส้นหญ้าให้เป็นเชือก และ “ปูรณโยคะ” พร้อมหมัด คือหลอกว่าจะโจมตีส่วนหนึ่งแล้วฉับพลันชกอีกส่วนหนึ่ง ต่างฝ่ายต่างงัดกลศึกเข้าประจันกันในระยะประชิด

तृणपीडम्the move called ‘tṛṇa-pīḍa’ (twisting/pressing like straw)
तृणपीडम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतृणपीड
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
यथाas, according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
कामम्desire; at will
कामम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पूर्णयोगम्the ‘full feint/combination’ (pūrṇa-yoga) move
पूर्णयोगम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपूर्णयोग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
समुष्टिकम्together with fist-blows
समुष्टिकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसमुष्टिक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
आदीनिand the like, etc.
आदीनि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआदि
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
युद्धानिfighting moves/combats
युद्धानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
प्रकुर्वन्तिthey perform, they execute
प्रकुर्वन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + कृ
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
परस्परम्mutually, against each other
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Ś
Śrīkṛṣṇa (speaker)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how physical conflict quickly becomes a display of technique, feint, and force; ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between regulated contest and cruelty—how skill can be used either within restraint or as a means to intensify harm.

A close-quarters bout is underway: the fighters begin applying recognized wrestling holds and fist-strikes—twisting locks like tṛṇapīḍa and combined maneuvers (pūrṇayoga)—each countering the other in a mutual exchange of increasingly forceful techniques.