Shloka 5
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
दुर्योधनश्वापि तमुग्रतेजा: पार्थश्व दुर्योधनमेकवीर: । अन्योन्यमाजोौ पुरुषप्रवीरी समौ समाजग्मतुराजमीढौ
duryodhanaś cāpi tam ugratejāḥ pārthaś ca duryodhanam ekavīraḥ | anyonyam ājau puruṣapravīrau samau samājagmatur ājamīḍhau ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors le puissant Duryodhana se rua sur Arjuna, et Arjuna—héros sans égal—se rua en retour sur Duryodhana. Au cœur de la mêlée, ces deux hommes d’élite, égaux en prouesse et tous deux issus de la lignée d’Ajamīḍha, fondirent l’un sur l’autre à grande vitesse, se rencontrant de face. La scène souligne une tension récurrente du Mahābhārata : la vaillance personnelle et l’orgueil royal poussent au combat même lorsque l’ordre plus vaste du dharma est en jeu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how kṣatriya valor and personal pride can propel warriors into direct confrontation; it implicitly invites reflection on whether mere equality in martial power is sufficient, or whether dharma and right purpose should govern the use of strength.
In the battle episode of the Virāṭa Parva, Duryodhana and Arjuna rush at each other simultaneously, meeting as evenly matched champions—both renowned heroes of the Ajamīḍha-descended royal line.