Shloka 19

शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12

Devanagari script

निवृत्य तु महावीर्यों समुच्छितमहागदौ । पुनरन्तरमार्गस्थौ मण्डलानि विचेरतु:

Transliteration

nivṛtya tu mahāvīryau samucchita-mahāgadau | punar antara-mārga-sthau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，两位大勇士——毗摩塞那与舍利耶——高举巨大的钉头槌：时而后撤，时而据守中线，时而绕行成大圈回旋，各自寻觅决斗中可乘之隙。

Word by Word

• निवृत्य: having turned back/retreated
• निवृत्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि+वृत्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), कर्तरि

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महावीर्यौ: the two of great prowess
• महावीर्यौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• समुच्छितमहागदौ: the two with their huge maces raised aloft
• समुच्छितमहागदौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुच्छितमहागदा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अन्तरमार्गस्थौ: the two standing in the middle path/space
• अन्तरमार्गस्थौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरमार्गस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• मण्डलानि: circles/rounds
• मण्डलानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विचेरतुः: they two moved about/wandered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+चर्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपदम्), perfect (narrative past), Third, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• भीमसेन (Bhīmasena)
• शल्य (Śalya)
• गदा (gadā, mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in violent conflict, the verse highlights controlled conduct—strategic withdrawal, holding position, and circling to find an opening—reflecting kṣatriya discipline where skill and restraint guide action rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīmasena and Śalya in a mace duel: both lift their heavy maces, sometimes retreat, sometimes stay in the middle line, and sometimes move in circles (maṇḍalas) as they test each other and seek a decisive strike.