Shloka 20
कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies
सिंहखेलगति: श्रीमान् मदरक्तान्तलोचन: । राजन्! तदनन्तर उस महान् संहारकारी युद्धको अत्यन्त संनिकट और प्राय: उपस्थित हुआ देख नीले रंगका रेशमी वस्त्र पहने कैलासशिखरके समान गौर-वर्णवाले हलधारी महाबाहु श्रीमान् बलरामजीने पाण्डवोंके शिविरमें सिंहके समान लीलापूर्वक गतिसे प्रवेश किया। उनके नेत्रोंक कोने मदसे अरुण हो रहे थे। उनके साथ अक्रूर आदि यदुवंशी तथा गद, साम्ब, उद्धव, प्रद्युम्न, चारुदेष्ण तथा आहुकपुत्र आदि प्रमुख वृष्णिवंशी भी जो सिंह और व्याप्रोंक समान अत्यन्त उत्कट बल-शाली थे, उन सबसे सुरक्षित बलरामजी वैसे ही सुशोभित हुए, मानो मरुद्गणोंके साथ महेन्द्र शोभा पा रहे हों ।। त॑ दृष्टवा धर्मराजश्न केशवश्व महाद्युति:,उन्हें देखते ही धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर, महातेजस्वी श्रीकृष्ण, भयंकर कर्म करनेवाले कुन्तीपुत्र भीमसेन तथा अन्य जो कोई भी राजा वहाँ विद्यमान थे, वे सब-के-सब उठकर खड़े हो गये
siṁhakhelagatiḥ śrīmān madaraktāntalocanaḥ | rājan tad-anantaraṁ sa mahān saṁhārakārī yuddhaṁ atyanta-sannikaṭaṁ prāyaḥ upasthitaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā nīla-raṅgaṁ reśmī-vastraṁ paridhāya kailāsa-śikhara-samaṁ gaura-varṇaṁ haladharaṁ mahābāhuṁ śrīmān balarāmaḥ pāṇḍava-śibire siṁha iva līlayā praveśaṁ cakāra | tasya netrāntā madena aruṇībhavanti sma | tena sārdham akrūra-prabhṛtayaḥ yaduvaṁśyāḥ gadādayaḥ sāmba uddhavaḥ pradyumnaḥ cārudeṣṇaḥ āhuka-putrādayaś ca pramukhā vṛṣṇayaḥ siṁha-vyāghra-samā atyanta-utkaṭa-balaśālinaḥ | taiḥ sarvaiḥ parivṛto balarāmaḥ marudgaṇaiḥ saha mahendra iva śuśubhe || taṁ dṛṣṭvā dharmarājaḥ keśavaś ca mahādyutiḥ bhīmasenaś ca ghora-karmā anye ca ye tatra rājānaḥ sarve te utthāya tasthuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O King, when that great, world-destroying war was seen to be extremely near—almost already upon them—Balarāma, the illustrious wielder of the plough, fair as the peak of Kailāsa and clad in blue silk, entered the Pāṇḍavas’ camp with the playful, leonine stride of a lion. The corners of his eyes were reddened with intoxication. With him came Akrūra and other Yādavas, and the foremost Vṛṣṇis—Gada, Sāmba, Uddhava, Pradyumna, Cārudeṣṇa, the sons of Āhuka, and others—fierce in strength like lions and tigers. Guarded and surrounded by them, Balarāma shone like Indra adorned by the Maruts. Seeing him, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the radiant Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), Bhīmasena of dreadful deeds, and all the kings present there rose to their feet.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
As the destructive war draws near, the passage highlights dharmic conduct under pressure: even amid impending violence, leaders uphold respect, protocol, and recognition of spiritual and social stature. Rising to greet Balarāma signals restraint, honor, and the maintenance of right order (maryādā) when emotions and power could easily override it.
Balarāma arrives at the Pāṇḍavas’ camp, accompanied by prominent Yādava/Vṛṣṇi heroes. His majestic, lion-like entrance and the Indra-with-Maruts simile emphasize his authority and the strength of his entourage. On seeing him, Yudhiṣṭhira, Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma, and the assembled kings stand up in formal respect.