Shloka 16
वे शल्य और भीमसेन दोनों गदारूप सींगोंको घुमा-घुमाकर साँड़ोंकी भाँति गरजते हुए पैंतरे बदल रहे थे ।। मण्डलावर्तमार्गेषु गदाविहरणेषु च । निर्विशेषम भूद् युद्ध तयो: पुरुषसिंहयो:,मण्डलाकार घूमनेके मार्गों (पैंतरों) और गदाके प्रहारोंमें उन दोनों पुरुषसिंहोंकी योग्यता एक-सी जान पड़ती थी
sañjaya uvāca | śalyaś ca bhīmasenaś ca gadārūpau śṛṅgau parivartya vṛṣabhāv iva nadantaḥ pādāni vinyasyantaḥ paryāyān parivartayām āsuḥ | maṇḍalāvartamārgeṣu gadāviharaṇeṣu ca nirviśeṣam abhūd yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Śalya and Bhīmasena, whirling their maces like a pair of horned bulls, roared and shifted their stances, circling for advantage. In their circular footwork and in the handling and striking of the mace, the contest between those two lion-like men appeared evenly matched.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in the immediacy of battle, victory can hinge on matched skill and tactical movement rather than on moral claims alone; it invites reflection on how dharma must be upheld through discipline and restraint even when the contest appears evenly balanced.
Sanjaya describes Śalya and Bhīma engaged in a mace duel: they roar like bulls, circle with practiced footwork, and exchange mace techniques so evenly that neither seems superior in maneuvering or weapon-handling.