Shloka 50
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
गदानिपातं प्रज्ञाय भीमसेनं च वज्चितम् | वज्चयित्वा तदा भीम॑ गदया कुरुसत्तम:
gadānipātaṁ prajñāya bhīmasenaṁ ca vañcitam | vañcayitvā tadā bhīmaṁ gadayā kurusattamaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Ayant compris le coup descendant de la massue et voyant Bhīmasena un instant abusé, le meilleur des Kuru déjoua alors Bhīma et le frappa de sa massue.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in war, mere power is insufficient; discernment (prajñā), vigilance, and tactical timing can decide outcomes. It also raises the ethical tension between straightforward valor and battlefield deception within kṣatriya conduct.
Sañjaya narrates a moment in the mace duel: the foremost Kuru warrior recognizes the trajectory of a mace-stroke, exploits Bhīma’s brief misstep, and counters by deceiving/outmaneuvering him and landing a mace blow.