Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 6
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
स श्रुत्वा कटुका वाचो जययुक्ता: पुनः पुनः । किमब्रवीत् पाण्डवेयांस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
sa śrutvā kaṭukā vāco jaya-yuktāḥ punaḥ punaḥ | kim abravīt pāṇḍaveyāṁs tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ||
Having heard those harsh words—again and again—laden with boasts of victory, Yudhiṣṭhira asks: “What did he say to the sons of Pāṇḍu? Tell me that, Sañjaya.” The question reflects a moral unease: triumphal speech in war wounds not only bodies but also dignity, and Yudhiṣṭhira seeks an exact account before judging or responding.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint and accountability in speech: words that exult in victory and repeatedly sting others are ethically weighty. Yudhiṣṭhira’s insistence on hearing the exact statement before reacting models dharmic deliberation—judgment should follow careful listening, not impulse.
Yudhiṣṭhira has heard that someone has been repeatedly speaking harsh, victory-tinged words. He turns to Sañjaya, the narrator-witness, and asks him to report precisely what was said to the Pāṇḍavas.
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