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

三阇耶说道：无论在何处一见到对方，他们便一再相互威吓。怒火之下，甚至龇牙咧嘴，面容因敌意而僵硬——这是心神为嗔怒所夺、战意翻涌的征兆。

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.