Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 36
Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
तमभ्याशगत प्राज्ञो रणे प्रेक्ष्य वृकोदर: । अवाक्षिपद् गदां तस्मिन् वेगेन महता बली,रणभूमिमें उसे निकट आया देख बुद्धिमान् एवं बलवान् भीमने उसपर बड़े वेगसे गदा चलायी
tam abhyāśagataḥ prājño raṇe prekṣya vṛkodaraḥ | avākṣipad gadāṃ tasmin vevena mahatā balī ||
فلما رآه يقترب في ساحة القتال، ألقى فِرِكودَرا (بهِيما) الحكيمُ شديدُ البأس صولجانَه على ذلك الخصم بسرعةٍ هائلة.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, the epic frames ideal action as requiring prajñā (discernment) alongside strength: power is not praised by itself, but as guided by alert judgment and the warrior’s duty within the battlefield context.
As an opponent closes in, Bhīma (Vṛkodara), described as both wise and mighty, responds immediately by hurling his mace at him with great speed, intensifying the close-quarters combat scene.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.