Shloka 25

Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ विरथौ राजन गदाहस्तौ महाबलौ । चिक्रीडतू रणे शूरौ सशृज्भाविव पर्वती,महाराज! उस समय वे दोनों महाबली शूरवीर रथहीन हो गदा हाथमें लेकर रणक्षेत्रमें खेल-सा करने लगे, मानो शिखरवाले दो पर्वत परस्पर टकरा रहे हों

Transliteration

tatas tau virathau rājan gadāhastau mahābalau | cikrīḍatū raṇe śūrāv iva śṛṅgabhāv iva parvatī ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Alors, ô Roi, ces deux héros d’une force immense —désormais privés de chars— prirent leurs massues et combattirent sur le champ de bataille comme en un jeu, tels deux montagnes aux sommets couronnés se heurtant l’une à l’autre. L’image ne dit pas la légèreté, mais la maîtrise sans peur du combat.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तौthose two

विरथौwithout chariots, chariotless

राजन्O king

गदाwith a mace

हस्तौhaving hands (in hand), hands

महाबलौvery mighty (possessing great strength)

चिक्रीडतुःthey played/sported

रणेin battle

शूरौthe two heroes

सशृङ्गौhaving peaks/summits

इवas if, like

पर्वतौtwo mountains

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

gadā (mace)

raṇa (battlefield)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage and skill: even when deprived of chariots and conventional advantage, warriors continue their duty with composure. The ‘play’ metaphor elevates disciplined mastery—yet it also hints at the tragic normalization of violence in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two powerful warriors have become chariotless and now engage directly with maces on the battlefield. Sañjaya describes their clash through a grand simile: like two mountain peaks striking each other, emphasizing the intensity and weight of their combat.