Mahabharata 9.57.36 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 57, Shloka 36

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

तौ परस्परमासाद्य दंष्टाभ्यां द्विरदौ यथा

Transliteration

tau parasparam āsādya daṁṣṭābhyāṁ dviradau yathā

Translation

三阇耶说道：二人相向逼近，迎面相撞，如两头雄象以长牙相锁——那是不肯退让的鏖战之象征，无人屈服，连那一声声撞击都成了意志的尺度。

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• परस्परम्: each other / mutually
• परस्परम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

• आसाद्य: having approached / having encountered
• आसाद्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active

• दंष्टाभ्याम्: with (their) tusks
• दंष्टाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Dual

• द्विरदौ: two elephants
• द्विरदौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• यथा: as / like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two combatants (unnamed in this half-verse)
• elephants
• tusks

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle: when duty and rivalry converge, true resolve is shown by meeting the opponent directly, without retreat—symbolized by elephants that lock tusks and endure the strain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two warriors engaging at close quarters. Their encounter is compared to two elephants colliding and locking tusks, conveying the intensity, equality, and stubborn persistence of the fight.