Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यस्य धनुश्कछित्त्वा हयान्‌ हत्वा च भारत । विरथावसियुद्धाय समीयतुरमर्षणौ

Transliteration

anyonyasya dhanuṣkṛt chittvā hayān hatvā ca bhārata | virathāv asi-yuddhāya samīyatur amarṣaṇau ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“噢，婆罗多啊！他们彼此斩断对方的弓，又杀尽战马；二人遂失却战车，怒火炽燃，便迎面逼近，要以利剑当面相搏。”

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यस्य: of each other
• अन्योन्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छित्त्वा: having cut
• छित्त्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

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

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विरथौ: both without chariots
• विरथौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रथ (विरथ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• असि-युद्धाय: for sword-fight
• असि-युद्धाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि-युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• समीयतुः: they came together / approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (समीय)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• अमर्षणौ: both furious / intolerant
• अमर्षणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्षण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• bow
• horses
• chariot
• sword

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of relentless engagement in battle: when primary weapons and chariots are lost, warriors continue with whatever means remain. Ethically, it portrays how anger (amarṣa) can intensify conflict, shifting from ranged combat to close, personal violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two opposing warriors disable each other’s bows, kill the horses, and become chariotless. Enraged, they close the distance and prepare for direct sword combat.