Shloka 556

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

राजन्नन्तरमार्गस्थौ स्थितावास्तां मुहुर्मुहुः | राजन! दोनों ही एक-दूसरेके प्रहारोंमें छिद्र ढूँढ़नेके लिये सतर्क थे। वे बारंबार छिद्रान्वेषणके मार्गमें स्थित हो छिद्र देखनेमें संलग्न रहते थे

Transliteration

rājann antaramārgasthau sthitāv āstāṃ muhur muhuḥ |

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊，那两位勇士屡次在冲击的正线上稳立不退，时时警觉，一再在彼此的攻势中寻觅破绽。于那紧绷的交锋间隙里，双方都竭力捕捉可乘之隙——战场之上，警醒与谋略压过安歇。

Word by Word

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अन्तरमार्गस्थौ: standing in the in-between path/interval (i.e., in the opening-seeking course)
• अन्तरमार्गस्थौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरमार्गस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• स्थितौ: standing, stationed
• स्थितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• आस्ताम्: they two remained/sat
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• मुहुः: again and again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra (addressed as Rājan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined vigilance of warriors: in righteous combat, success depends not only on strength but on steady attention, timing, and self-control—qualities central to kṣatriya conduct and the ethical gravity of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes two combatants who repeatedly pause in a poised stance, watching for a ‘gap’ or opening in each other’s defense, continually seeking the right moment to strike.