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Shloka 32

Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha

Verbal Duel and Omens

अन्योन्यमभिधावन्तौ मत्ताविव महाद्विपौ । वासितासंगमे दृप्ती शरदीव मदोत्कटौ,जैसे शरद-ऋतुमें मैथुनकी इच्छावाली हथिनीसे समागम करनेके लिये दो मतवाले हाथी मदोन्मत्त होकर एक-दूसरेपर धावा करते हों, उसी प्रकार अपने बलका गर्व रखनेवाले वे दोनों वीर एक-दूसरेसे टक्कर लेनेको उद्यत थे। शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले वे दोनों योद्धा दो सर्पोके समान प्रज्वलित क्रोधरूपी विषका वमन करते हुए एक-दूसरेको रोषपूर्वक देख रहे थे

anyonyam abhidhāvantau mattāv iva mahādvipau | vāsitāsaṅgame dṛptī śaradīva madotkaṭau ||

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า ดุจช้างใหญ่สองเชือกที่เมามัน กำเริบด้วยทิฐิ ในฤดูสารทเมื่อเร่งรุดเพื่อการสมสู่ ต่างพุ่งเข้าหากันฉันใด วีรบุรุษทั้งสองผู้ทะนงในกำลังก็เร่งเข้าปะทะฉันนั้น. ทั้งคู่เป็นผู้ปราบศัตรู จ้องกันด้วยโทสะ ประหนึ่งงูสองตัวพ่นพิษแห่งความเดือดดาลอันลุกโพลง.

अन्योन्यम्mutually, each other
अन्योन्यम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्योन्य
FormAvyaya (adverbial accusative usage)
अभिधावन्तौrunning towards (charging)
अभिधावन्तौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-धाव्
FormPresent participle (शतृ), masculine nominative dual
मत्तौintoxicated, rut-maddened
मत्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमत्त
FormMasculine nominative dual
इवlike, as if
इव:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
FormAvyaya
महाद्विपौtwo great elephants
महाद्विपौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहाद्विप
FormMasculine nominative dual
वासिता-सङ्गमेin the union/meeting with a female elephant in heat
वासिता-सङ्गमे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवासिता-सङ्गम
FormMasculine locative singular
दृप्तीproud, haughty
दृप्ती:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदृप्त
FormMasculine nominative dual
शरदिin autumn
शरदि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशरद्
FormFeminine locative singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
FormAvyaya
मद-उत्कटौfierce with rut/intoxication
मद-उत्कटौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमदोत्कट
FormMasculine nominative dual

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
T
two unnamed warriors (the pair being compared)
E
elephants (mahādvipa)
S
serpents (implied in the simile)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how pride in strength and unchecked anger can drive warriors into destructive collision, likening martial fury to animal rut and serpent-venom—an implicit warning that passion and wrath, when ungoverned by dharma, intensify violence and cloud discernment.

Sañjaya describes two opposing champions rushing at each other for a direct clash. Their mutual charge and hostile staring are portrayed through vivid similes: musth-maddened elephants seeking combat and serpents spewing the poison of blazing rage.