Shloka 73
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha
युद्धभूमिं गती वीरावुभावेव रराजतु: । तदनन्तर गदा हाथमें लेकर दुर्योधन और भीमसेन युद्ध-भूमिमें उतरे। वे दोनों ही वीर वहाँ बड़ी शोभा पा रहे थे
yuddhabhūmiṁ gatī vīrāv ubhāv eva rarājatuḥ | tad-anantaraṁ gadāṁ hastayoḥ gṛhītvā duryodhanaś ca bhīmasenaś ca yuddhabhūmim avataratām | tau ubhau vīrau tatra mahā-śobhāṁ prāptau ||
Sañjaya sprach: Die beiden Helden, als sie das Schlachtfeld betraten, leuchteten in strahlender Pracht. Darauf stiegen Duryodhana und Bhīmasena, die Keulen in den Händen, in die Kampfarena hinab. Beide standen dort in eindrucksvoller Herrlichkeit—ein unheilvolles Vorspiel zu einem Duell, in dem persönliche Feindschaft und königliche Pflicht unter den harten Forderungen des kṣatriya-dharma aufeinanderprallen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between outward martial glory and the grave ethical weight of war: even when warriors appear radiant and heroic, the battlefield remains a place where dharma is tested and consequences are irreversible.
Sañjaya describes Duryodhana and Bhīmasena entering the battlefield with maces in hand, both appearing splendid as they prepare for the climactic mace-fight.