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Shloka 37

Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)

केशाकेश्यभवद्‌ युद्ध रक्षसां वानरै: सह । न्खैर्दन्तश्न वीराणां खादतां वै परस्परम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ वीर राक्षसोंका वानरोंके साथ सिरके बाल पकड़कर युद्ध होने लगा। वे नखों और दाँतोंसे भी एक-दूसरेको काट खाते थे

keśākeśy abhavad yuddhaṃ rakṣasāṃ vānaraiḥ saha | nakhair dantaś ca vīrāṇāṃ khādatāṃ vai parasparam ||

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Rồi trận chiến giữa rākṣasa và vānara biến thành cuộc vật lộn man rợ, túm tóc giằng co. Những chiến sĩ anh hùng, bị cơn cuồng nộ thúc đẩy, cào cấu và cắn xé nhau bằng móng và răng, ai cũng muốn khuất phục đối phương.”

केशाकेशिin hair-to-hair (grappling by the hair)
केशाकेशि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकेश + केशिन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अभवत्was / happened
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect, 3, Singular
युद्धम्battle
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
रक्षसाम्of the rakshasas
रक्षसाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
वानरैःwith/by the monkeys
वानरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवानर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सहtogether with
सह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
नखैःwith nails/claws
नखैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
दन्तैःwith teeth
दन्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदन्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वीराणाम्of the heroes/warriors
वीराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
खादताम्of (those) biting/eating
खादताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootखाद्
FormPresent active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
परस्परम्each other / mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

M
Mārkaṇḍeya
R
rākṣasas
V
vānaras
K
keśa (hair)
N
nakha (nails/claws)
D
danta (teeth)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how unchecked rage in war can reduce even ‘heroes’ to animal-like brutality, reminding the listener that valor without restraint easily slips into cruelty—an implicit ethical warning within the epic’s depiction of conflict.

Mārkaṇḍeya describes the fight escalating into close-quarters grappling: rākṣasas and vānaras seize each other by the hair and, in the frenzy of combat, bite and claw one another.