Shloka 323
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
उत्थितः स हृदाद् वीर: प्रगृह् महतीं गदाम् | बलराम! जब सब ओरसे कड़वी बातोंद्वारा उसे व्यथित किया जाने लगा, तब वह बलवान् वीर विशाल गदा हाथमें लेकर सरोवरसे उठ खड़ा हुआ
utthitaḥ sa hṛdād vīraḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām | balarāma! yadā sarvato kaṭuvāgbhir vyathito bhavitum ārabdhaḥ, tadā sa balavān vīro viśālāṃ gadāṃ hastena gṛhītvā sarovarād utthāya tiṣṭhatīti |
Nārada said: “The hero rose up from the lake, taking hold of his great mace. O Balarāma, when harsh words from all sides began to trouble and wound him, that mighty warrior stood up from the waters, grasping his massive club.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of speech: bitter, provocative words can inflame even a strong person and push events toward violence. It implicitly warns that controlling one’s tongue and avoiding taunting speech is part of dharma, especially in tense, martial contexts.
Nārada narrates that a warrior, distressed by harsh remarks coming from all directions, rises from a lake and firmly takes up his great mace—an outward sign that he is ready to respond, and that the situation is escalating toward confrontation.