Shloka 46
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
श्र॒त्वा दुर्योधनवच: प्रत्यपद्यन्त तत्तथा,दुर्योधनकी यह बात सुनकर सब लोगोंने उसे स्वीकार कर लिया, फिर तो राजाओंका वह विशाल समूह वहाँ सब ओर बैठ गया। नरेशोंकी वह मण्डली आकाशमें सूर्यमण्डलके समान दिखायी दे रही थी। उन सबके बीचमें भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके बड़े भ्राता तेजस्वी महाबाहु बलरामजी विराजमान हुए। महाराज! सब ओरसे सम्मानित होते हुए नीलाम्बरधारी, गौरकान्ति बलभद्रजी राजाओंके बीचमें वैसे ही शोभा पा रहे थे, जैसे रात्रिमें नक्षत्रोंसे घिरे हुए पूर्ण चन्द्रमा सुशोभित होते हैं
sañjaya uvāca | śrutvā duryodhana-vacaḥ pratyapadyanta tat tathā | tato rājñāṃ sa mahān saṃghas tatra sarvata upāviśat | nṛpāṇāṃ sā maṇḍalī dyauḥ-sthaṃ sūryamaṇḍalam iva babhāse | teṣāṃ madhye bhagavataḥ śrīkṛṣṇasya bṛhad-bhrātā tejasvī mahābāhur balarāmo vyarājata | mahārāja sarvataḥ saṃmānito nīlāmbara-dharo gaurakāntir balabhadro rājñāṃ madhye tathā śuśubhe yathā rātrau nakṣatra-parivṛtaḥ pūrṇacandraḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Hearing Duryodhana’s words, the assembled kings assented accordingly. Then that vast company of rulers sat down on all sides there. The circle of monarchs appeared like the orb of the sun in the sky. In their midst shone Balarāma—mighty-armed, radiant, the revered elder brother of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. O King, honored from every side, Balabhadra, clad in blue garments and fair in complexion, was splendid among the kings like the full moon at night surrounded by stars.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of social consensus and honor in royal politics: once a leader’s proposal is accepted, the assembly’s order and hierarchy become visible, and true eminence is marked not merely by authority but by the respect freely offered by others—here embodied in Balarāma’s honored, luminous presence.
After Duryodhana speaks, the gathered kings agree and take their seats around him. The assembly is described through cosmic similes (sun-orb, moon among stars). In the center sits Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother, distinguished by his radiance, attire, and the universal respect shown to him.