Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

गदापाणी उभौ द‍ृष्ट्वा संरब्धौ विजयैषिणौ । मण्डलानि विचित्राणि चरन्ताविदमब्रवीत् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

gadā-pāṇī ubhau dṛṣṭvā saṁrabdhau vijayaiṣiṇau maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi carantāv idam abravīt

Translation

Lord Balarāma saw Duryodhana and Bhīma with clubs in hand, both enraged and seeking victory as they skillfully circled in varied patterns; then He addressed them.

Synonyms

• गदा: mace
• गदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (समासाङ्ग)

• पाणी: (two) hands
• पाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual) (समासाङ्ग)

• गदापाणी: mace-in-hand (the two, holding maces)
• गदापाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘गदायाः पाणी यस्य/ययोः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having seen’

• संरब्धौ: enraged
• संरब्धौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं+रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन; ‘enraged/agitated’

• विजय: victory
• विजय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• एषिणौ: seeking
• एषिणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘seeking/desiring’

• विजयैषिणौ: seeking victory
• विजयैषिणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक) + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (object-of-seeking): ‘विजयं एषिणौ’; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन; विशेषण

• मण्डलानि: circles/rings (maneuvers)
• मण्डलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विचित्राणि: various/remarkable
• विचित्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मण्डलानि)

• चरन्तौ: moving about/performing
• चरन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन; ‘moving/performing’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘this’ (object of speech)

• अब्रवीत्: he said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Baladeva
• Dvivida

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about mace-fighting techniques in Balarama’s pastimes?

This verse notes that the fighters circled in intricate “maṇḍalāni” (circular maneuvers), indicating skilled, traditional combat movements during Baladeva’s battle.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize that both were enraged and eager for victory?

To highlight the intensity of the confrontation—both combatants were fully committed and emotionally charged—setting the stage for the decisive words and actions that follow in the narrative.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from this verse about handling conflict?

Even when situations become intense and competitive, a devotee should remember that outcomes ultimately rest with the Lord’s will and that dharma—not ego-driven victory—should be the guiding principle.