Shloka 67
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
स्पर्थया च बलोन्मत्ता तावुभौ सूतपाण्डवौ । निशीथे पर्यकर्षेतां बलिनौ निर्जने स्थले
spardhayā ca balonmattā tāv ubhau sūtapāṇḍavau | niśīthe paryakarṣetāṃ balinau nirjane sthale ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Driven to a kind of frenzy by rivalry and pride in strength, the two heroes—the Sūta’s son and the son of Pāṇḍu—grappled in a lonely place at midnight. Both powerful, they kept dragging and shoving one another, their contest fueled more by competitive ardor than restraint.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how rivalry (spardhā) and pride in strength can intoxicate even great warriors, pushing them toward prolonged, purposeless struggle. Ethically, it points to the need for restraint and discernment so that power serves dharma rather than ego-driven competition.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Sūta’s son (Karṇa) and the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) are locked in a forceful contest at midnight in a deserted place, repeatedly pulling and shoving each other as their competitive spirit escalates.