Shloka 453
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
यद् गदाभिहतो भीमो नाकम्पत पदात् पदम् | राजन्! गदाकी चोट खाकर भी जो भीमसेन एक पग भी इधर-उधर नहीं हुए, वह महान् आश्वर्यकी बात थी, जिसकी सभी सैनिकोंने भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा की
yad gadābhihato bhīmo nākampata padāt padam | rājan |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, meski Bhīma dihantam gada, ia tidak bergeser walau selangkah. Keteguhan di tengah pukulan yang menghancurkan itu menjadi keajaiban besar; para kesatria dari segala penjuru memujinya berulang-ulang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under adversity: true strength is not merely the ability to strike, but the capacity to remain unshaken when struck. In the ethical frame of kṣatriya-dharma, composure and firmness in the face of danger are praised as marks of heroic discipline.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma, even after being hit by a mace, did not stagger or give ground by even a step. The surrounding warriors regard this as extraordinary and praise Bhīma’s unwavering stance during the mace-combat episode of the war.