Shloka 46
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
श्र॒त्वा दुर्योधनवच: प्रत्यपद्यन्त तत्तथा
sañjaya uvāca | śrutvā duryodhana-vacaḥ pratyapadyanta tat tathā | tato rājñāṃ sa mahān saṃghas tatra sarvata upāviśat | nṛpāṇāṃ sā maṇḍalī dyauḥ-sthaṃ sūryamaṇḍalam iva babhāse | teṣāṃ madhye bhagavataḥ śrīkṛṣṇasya bṛhad-bhrātā tejasvī mahābāhur balarāmo vyarājata | mahārāja sarvataḥ saṃmānito nīlāmbara-dharo gaurakāntir balabhadro rājñāṃ madhye tathā śuśubhe yathā rātrau nakṣatra-parivṛtaḥ pūrṇacandraḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Als die versammelten Könige Duryodhanas Worte hörten, stimmten sie dem entsprechend zu. Dann setzte sich jene gewaltige Schar der Herrscher ringsum nieder. Der Kreis der Monarchen erschien wie die Sonnenscheibe am Himmel. In ihrer Mitte strahlte Balarāma—mächtig an den Armen, leuchtend, der verehrte ältere Bruder des Herrn Śrī Kṛṣṇa. O König, von allen Seiten geehrt, war Balabhadra, in blaue Gewänder gekleidet und von heller Erscheinung, unter den Königen so herrlich wie der Vollmond in der Nacht, von Sternen umgeben.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of social consensus and honor in royal politics: once a leader’s proposal is accepted, the assembly’s order and hierarchy become visible, and true eminence is marked not merely by authority but by the respect freely offered by others—here embodied in Balarāma’s honored, luminous presence.
After Duryodhana speaks, the gathered kings agree and take their seats around him. The assembly is described through cosmic similes (sun-orb, moon among stars). In the center sits Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother, distinguished by his radiance, attire, and the universal respect shown to him.