Shloka 23

Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana

Devanagari script

स भीमदुर्योधनयोर्गदाभ्यां युध्यतोर्मृधे । वारयिष्यन् विनशनं जगाम यदुनन्दन: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

sa bhīma-duryodhanayor gadābhyāṁ yudhyator mṛdhe vārayiṣyan vinaśanaṁ jagāma yadu-nandanaḥ

Translation

To stop the ruinous club fight raging on the battlefield between Bhīma and Duryodhana, Lord Balarāma, the joy of the Yadus, went to Kurukṣetra.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भीम-दुर्योधनयोः: of Bhīma and Duryodhana
• भीम-दुर्योधनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (‘भीमश्च दुर्योधनश्च’)

• गदाभ्याम्: with (their) clubs
• गदाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन

• युध्यतोः: of the two who were fighting
• युध्यतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), षष्ठी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘of the two fighting’

• मृधे: in battle
• मृधे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृध्/मृध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• वारयिष्यन्: intending to stop
• वारयिष्यन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारय् (धातु; √वृ ‘to restrain’ causative)
• Form: भविष्यत्काले कर्तरि कृदन्त (Future active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘intending/going to stop’

• विनशनम्: destruction
• विनशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √गम्

• यदु-नन्दनः: the delight of the Yadus (Kṛṣṇa)
• यदु-नन्दनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘यदूनां नन्दनः’)

Characters & Entities

• Bhīma
• Duryodhana
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhima and Duryodhana’s club fight?

This verse states that Bhīma and Duryodhana were fighting with clubs, and Balarāma went to the battlefield aiming to prevent the impending ruin that could result from their combat.

Why did Balarama go to stop Bhima and Duryodhana?

Because their gada-yuddha was reaching a decisive and destructive point; Balarāma, connected to both sides through affection and dharmic concern, went with the intention of restraining the outcome from turning into catastrophic destruction.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When conflict escalates toward irreversible harm, a wise and well-wishing mediator should intervene early to restrain destruction and restore proportion, discipline, and dharma.