Shloka 31
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
त॑ निहत्य गदाग्रेण स लेभे परमां मुदम् । पुत्र: पाज्चालराजस्य महात्मा भीमविक्रम:,पांचालराजका भयानक पराक्रमी पुत्र महामना धृष्टद्युम्न गदाके अग्रभागसे शलपुत्रको मारकर अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हुए
taṁ nihatya gadāgreṇa sa lebhe paramāṁ mudam | putraḥ pāñcālarājasya mahātmā bhīmavikramaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Having struck him down with the mightiest blow from the head of his mace, the great-souled son of the king of the Pāñcālas—fearsome in valor—felt supreme joy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects the Mahābhārata’s portrayal of kṣatriya-dharma: on the battlefield, defeating a dangerous opponent is treated as a rightful martial achievement, yet the narrative tone also reminds the reader that such ‘joy’ arises within the tragic machinery of war.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāñcāla king’s son, Dhṛṣṭadyumna—described as great-souled and fearsome in prowess—kills his opponent with a mace-blow and then feels intense satisfaction at the victory.