Shloka 58
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
यद्येकस्तु न हन्तव्यो बहुभिर्धर्म एव तु । तदाभिमन्युं बहवो निजघ्नुस्त्वन्मते कथम्
yady ekas tu na hantavyo bahubhir dharma eva tu | tadābhimanyuṃ bahavo nijaghnus tvanmate kathaṃ ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Si en verdad es dharma que muchos no derriben a un solo guerrero, entonces ¿cómo—según tu propio juicio—muchos combatientes dieron muerte juntos a Abhimanyu? Hablas de la más alta meta, el mundo de Indra, para los héroes que luchan con justicia; y, sin embargo, este acto parece violar la misma norma del combate leal.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the consistency of dharma in warfare: if righteous combat forbids many attacking one, then the collective killing of Abhimanyu becomes an ethical breach. It highlights the tension between proclaimed ideals of just war and actions driven by expediency.
Yudhiṣṭhira challenges the opposing side’s moral reasoning, pointing to Abhimanyu’s death—caused by multiple warriors together—as evidence that their conduct contradicted accepted rules of fair battle, even while they claim heavenly reward for righteous fighters.