Shloka 28
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ यमवासवयोरिव
sañjaya uvāca | ubhau sadṛśa-karmāṇau yamavāsavayor iva, mahārāja! śatrūṇāṃ santāpa-denau te dvau mahābalī vīrau yamarāja-indra-varuṇa-śrīkṛṣṇa-balarāma-kubera-madhu-kaiṭabha-sunda-upasunda-rāma-rāvaṇa-bāli-sugrīvavat parākramaṃ darśayantaḥ kāla-mṛtyu-samāv iva pratibhānti |
Sañjaya sprach: O großer König, diese beiden übermächtigen Helden glichen einander in ihren Taten, wie Yama und Vāsava (Indra). Sie quälten ihre Feinde und entfalteten eine Kraft, die der Yamas, Indras, Varuṇas, Kṛṣṇas, Balarāmas und Kuberas gleichkam; ja, wie die berühmten Gegenspieler Madhu und Kaiṭabha, Sunda und Upasunda, Rāma und Rāvaṇa sowie Bāli und Sugrīva. Wahrlich, sie erschienen wie Zeit und Tod selbst.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, in war, extraordinary martial power can appear godlike and even resemble the inevitability of Time and Death—reminding the listener that human conflict, when driven to extremes, becomes an arena where fate and mortality dominate ethical choice.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that two opposing champions on the battlefield are matching each other in deeds and ferocity, and he heightens the scene by comparing their prowess to major gods and legendary pairs of rivals, suggesting an apocalyptic intensity.