Shloka 9
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
सलिलान्तर्गतो राजा धुन्वन् हस्तौ पुनः पुन: । मनश्लकार युद्धाय राजानं चाभ्यभाषत
salilāntargato rājā dhunvan hastau punaḥ punaḥ | manaślakāra yuddhāya rājānaṃ cābhyabhāṣata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Sang raja yang berada di dalam air mengguncang kedua tangannya berulang kali, meneguhkan tekadnya untuk berperang, lalu berbicara kepada raja yang lain.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of mental steadiness and readiness for duty in war: even amid physical discomfort (being in water), the warrior-king gathers resolve and turns his mind toward the task at hand.
Sañjaya describes a king who is in the water; he repeatedly shakes his hands (as if to clear water and regain readiness), steels his mind for combat, and then addresses another king—signaling a renewed engagement in the battle.