Shloka 34
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
पुरुषो भव गान्धारे युध्यस्व सुसमाहित: । अद्य ते जीवितं नास्ति यदीन्द्रोडपि तवाश्रयः,युधिष्ठिर बोले--गान्धारीनन्दन! सुयोधन! उठो-उठो और मेरे साथ युद्ध करो। बलवान तो तुम हो ही। युद्धमें गदाके द्वारा अकेले किसी एक वीरके साथ ही भिड़कर अपने पुरुषत्वका परिचय दो। एकाग्रचित्त होकर युद्ध करो। यदि इन्द्र भी तुम्हारे आश्रयदाता हो जायाँ तो भी आज तुम्हारे प्राण नहीं बच सकते
puruṣo bhava gāndhāre yudhyasva susamāhitaḥ | adya te jīvitaṃ nāsti yadīndro 'pi tavāśrayaḥ ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «كُن رجلاً، يا ابن غاندھاري؛ وقاتِل بعقلٍ ثابتٍ مجموع. اليوم لن تُستبقى حياتك—ولو صار إندرا نفسه حاميك.»
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma: in a justly joined battle, one must face the opponent with steadiness and courage, accepting responsibility for one’s actions and the inevitability of consequences—so certain that even divine patronage is declared insufficient to avert the destined outcome.
At the war’s climax, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Duryodhana (Gāndhārī’s son), urging him to rise and fight with focused mind, and declaring that Duryodhana’s death is imminent even if Indra were to support him—heightening the tension before the decisive confrontation.