Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
संजय उवाच शिरस्यभिह्ठतं दृष्टवा भीमसेनेन ते सुतम् । राम: प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठक्षुक्रोध बलवदूबली
sañjaya uvāca | śirasy abhiṣṭhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena te sutam | rāmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ krodhaṃ balavad ābabhau ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে— “হে ৰাজন! ভীমসেনে আপোনাৰ পুত্ৰৰ মূৰত প্ৰহাৰ কৰা দেখি, প্ৰহাৰকাৰীসকলৰ মাজত শ্ৰেষ্ঠ মহাবলী বলৰামক প্ৰবল ক্ৰোধে আচ্ছন্ন কৰিলে।”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical volatility of war: when a warrior’s action is seen as crossing the bounds of honorable conduct, it can provoke righteous indignation and escalate conflict. Even revered elders like Balarama respond strongly when they perceive a breach of martial propriety.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Bhimasena has struck/trampled Dhritarashtra’s son (Duryodhana) on the head. Witnessing this, Balarama—renowned as a supreme fighter—becomes intensely angry.