Shloka 18
Śālva–Pradyumna Yuddha: Sārathya-kauśala, Astra-pratikāra, Daiva-niyati
Chapter 20
स समालोक्य दूरान्मां स्मयन्निव युधिष्ठिर । आह्वियामास दुष्टात्मा युद्धायैव मुहुर्मुहु:,युधिष्ठिर! वह दुष्टात्मा दूरसे ही मुझे देखकर मुसकराता हुआ-सा बारंबार युद्धके लिये ललकारने लगा
sa samālokya dūrān māṁ smayann iva yudhiṣṭhira | āhviyāmāsa duṣṭātmā yuddhāyaiva muhur muhuḥ ||
O Yudhiṣṭhira, that wicked-souled man, seeing me from afar and seeming to smile, challenged me again and again—only for battle.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how adharma often expresses itself as mockery and repeated provocation toward violence, while dharma requires discernment and steadiness when confronted by such taunts.
Vāsudeva recounts to Yudhiṣṭhira that an antagonistic, wicked-minded person saw him from a distance, appeared to smile in derision, and repeatedly issued a challenge to fight.