Shloka 29
शतं सहस्रमयुतं रामस्तत्राददे पणम् । तं तु रुक्म्यजयत्तत्र कालिङ्ग: प्राहसद् बलम् । दन्तान् सन्दर्शयन्नुच्चैर्नामृष्यत्तद्धलायुध: ॥ २९ ॥
śataṁ sahasram ayutaṁ rāmas tatrādade paṇam taṁ tu rukmy ajayat tatra kāliṅgaḥ prāhasad balam dantān sandarśayann uccair nāmṛṣyat tad dhalāyudhaḥ
Dans cette partie, Balarāma accepta d’abord une mise de cent, puis de mille, puis de dix mille pièces. Rukmī remporta ce premier tour. Alors le roi de Kaliṅga éclata de rire, exhibant ses dents, pour se moquer de Balarāma. Le Seigneur au soc d’araire ne put supporter cet affront.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the wagers consisted of gold coins. Lord Balarāma inwardly became quite angry when He saw the gross offense of the King of Kaliṅga.
FAQs
This verse describes Balarāma placing progressively higher wagers and being shown as losing to Rukmī, after which the king of Kaliṅga mocks Balarāma—setting the stage for Balarāma’s intolerance of insult and the ensuing consequences.
He laughed to mock and dishonor Balarāma in public, brazenly baring his teeth; the verse highlights that such ridicule was offensive enough that Halāyudha could not tolerate it.
Public ridicule and prideful mockery escalate conflict; the verse warns against humiliating others and shows how contempt can provoke serious reactions—encouraging restraint, respect, and humility.