Shloka 54
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
योधा व्युपारमन् युद्धाद् दिदृक्षन्त: पराक्रमम् । कर्णपाण्डवयो राजन् परस्परवधैषिणो:,राजन! परस्पर वधकी इच्छा रखनेवाले कर्ण और भीमसेनके पराक्रमको देखनेकी अभिलाषासे समस्त योद्धा युद्धसे उपरत हो गये
sañjaya uvāca |
yodhā vyupāraman yuddhād didṛkṣantaḥ parākramam |
karṇa-pāṇḍavayo rājan paraspara-vadhaiṣiṇoḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô Roi, les guerriers cessèrent de se battre, désireux de voir la prouesse de Karṇa et du Pāṇḍava, tous deux résolus à la mort l’un de l’autre. Le tumulte du champ de bataille fit place un instant à une pause tendue, tandis que tous les regards se tournaient vers ce duel, mû par la vengeance et par la sombre éthique du combat kṣatriya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal enmity and the pursuit of lethal victory can dominate the battlefield, drawing even many warriors into spectatorship. It implicitly contrasts collective duty in war with the magnetic pull of a decisive duel, underscoring the harsh moral atmosphere where valor is admired even when aimed at mutual destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the fighters temporarily stop engaging, because they want to watch the display of strength between Karṇa and the Pāṇḍava champion, both determined to kill the other. The scene sets up a focused confrontation amid the larger battle.