Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
भ्रातृणां भवतामेको युध्यतां गदया मया । सहदेवेन वा योत्स्ये भीमेन नकुलेन वा
bhrātṝṇāṁ bhavatām eko yudhyatāṁ gadayā mayā | sahadevena vā yotsye bhīmena nakulena vā ||
তোমালোকৰ ভাতৃসকলৰ মাজৰ এজন মোৰ সৈতে গদাযুদ্ধ কৰক। সহদেৱ হওক, ভীম হওক বা নকুল হওক—যাৰ সৈতে হওক, মই যুঁজিম।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of regulated combat—calling for a single opponent and a defined weapon (the mace). It frames courage and accountability in battle, implying that even amid war there are norms meant to restrain chaos and focus conflict into honorable duels.
A challenge is proclaimed: one of the brothers is invited to face the challenger in a mace duel. Specific Pandava brothers—Sahadeva, Bhīma, and Nakula—are named as possible opponents, intensifying the confrontation and steering the encounter toward a decisive one-on-one fight.
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