Shloka 42

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

तर्जयन्ति च संद्ृष्टास्तत्र तत्र परस्परम्‌ | आदश्य दशनैश्लवापि क्रोधात्‌ सरदनच्छदम्‌

Transliteration

tarjayanti ca saṃdṛṣṭās tatra tatra parasparam | ādaśya daśanaiḥ ślāvāpi krodhāt saradanacchadam ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Hễ bắt gặp nhau ở đâu, họ lại hết lần này đến lần khác đe dọa nhau. Trong cơn giận, họ còn nhe răng, gương mặt cứng lại vì thù hằn—dấu hiệu của tâm trí bị phẫn nộ chiếm đoạt khi khí thế chiến trận dâng lên.

Word by Word

• तर्जयन्ति: they threaten/taunt
• तर्जयन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्ज्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• संदृष्टाः: having seen (each other); on seeing
• संदृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संदृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• तत्र: here and there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• परस्परम्: one another
• परस्परम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

• आदश्य: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), ल्यप्

• दशनैः: with (their) teeth
• दशनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• लवापि: even slightly/at all (even a bit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लव + अपि

• क्रोधात्: from anger; out of wrath
• क्रोधात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सरदनच्छदम्: the covering of the teeth (i.e., the lips/mouth-covering)
• सरदनच्छदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरदनच्छद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) quickly manifests outwardly—through threats and aggressive gestures—showing the ethical danger of wrath in war: it dehumanizes opponents and clouds discernment, making restraint and self-control crucial even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the combatants on the battlefield: whenever they come face to face, they exchange threats and display fierce anger, even baring their teeth—an image of escalating hostility as the fighting intensifies.