Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अज्ञेनाज़ं समापीड्य बाहुभ्यामुभयोरपि । आवृत्य बाहुभिश्चापि उदरं च प्रचक्रतु:,उस समय दोनों अपने अंगों और भुजाओंसे प्रतिद्वन्द्ीके शरीरको दबाकर शत्रुकी पीठमें अपने गलेकी हँसली भिड़ाकर उसके पेटको दोनों बाँहोंसे कस लेते और उठाकर दूर फेंकते थे

Transliteration

ajñenāzaṃ samāpīḍya bāhubhyām ubhayor api | āvṛtya bāhubhiś cāpi udaraṃ ca pracakratuḥ ||

Translation

Trong cơn nóng của thế vật lộn vụng về, mỗi người dùng cả hai tay ép chặt đối phương; rồi khóa chặt trong vòng ôm, siết ngang bụng kẻ địch bằng hai cánh tay, vặn xoay trong cuộc giằng co dữ dội.

Word by Word

अज्ञेनwith/through an ignorant (one)

अजम्a goat

समापीड्यhaving pressed/squeezed

बाहुभ्याम्with (two) arms

उभयोःof both (of them)

अपिalso/even

आवृत्यhaving covered/encircled

बाहुभिःwith arms

चand

अपिalso/even

उदरम्belly/abdomen

चand

प्रचक्रतुःthe two did/caused (to be done); they acted

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how lack of proper knowledge or training (ajñena) in a contest leads to harsh, force-driven struggle; it implicitly contrasts disciplined, rule-bound combat with uncontrolled violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two opponents grapple at close quarters: each squeezes the other with both arms, encloses him in a clinch, and constricts the abdomen, twisting and wrenching in an intense wrestling exchange.