Shloka 33
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
स चाप्युपगतो योद्धुं भीमेन सह साम्प्रतम्
sa cāpy upagato yoddhuṃ bhīmena saha sāmpratam | idānīṃ sa bhīmena saha yuddhārthaṃ teṣāṃ samīpaṃ prāptaḥ | rāma! adya tayor mahāghoraṃ yuddhaṃ bhaviṣyati | mādhava! yadi te manasi tad draṣṭuṃ kautūhalaṃ syāt tarhi śīghraṃ gaccha | yadi manyase tarhi svayoḥ śiṣyayoḥ tad mahābhayaṅkaraṃ yuddhaṃ svacakṣuṣā paśya |
Nārada berkata: “Ia pun kini telah berangkat untuk bertempur melawan Bhīma dan telah tiba di hadapan mereka. Rāma, hari ini akan terjadi pertempuran yang amat mengerikan di antara keduanya. Mādhava, bila hatimu ingin menyaksikannya, segeralah pergi—jangan menunda. Jika engkau memandangnya patut, saksikan dengan matamu sendiri pertempuran yang menakutkan antara dua muridmu itu.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even a teacher may be compelled to witness disciples locked in destructive rivalry, underscoring how martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) and destiny can drive fearsome conflict, while urging mindful discernment (“if you deem it right”).
Nārada informs Paraśurāma (Rāma) and Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava) that a combatant has come to fight Bhīma, and that a dreadful duel will occur that day; he invites Mādhava to go quickly and, if appropriate, watch the terrifying battle between his two disciples.