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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 |

اس کے بعد وہ اپنی مرضی کے مطابق ‘تِرِن پیڑ’—یعنی جیسے رسی بنانے کو تنکوں کو بٹا جاتا ہے ویسے ہی ہاتھ پاؤں وغیرہ کو اینٹھنا—اور مُکّوں کے وار سمیت ‘پُورن یوگ’—ایک عضو پر ضرب کا دھوکا دے کر دوسرے عضو پر اچانک وار—وغیرہ کے داؤ پیچ ایک دوسرے پر آزمانے لگے۔

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.