Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुयुद्धं समीयतु:
tatastau naraśārdūlau bāhuyuddhaṃ samīyatuḥ
Kemudian kedua insan bagai harimau itu maju mendekat untuk bertarung dengan lengan—beradu dalam gulat jarak dekat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of confronting conflict directly and courageously. By moving into bāhuyuddha (hand-to-hand combat), the narrative emphasizes personal valor and disciplined force—strength governed by warrior duty rather than mere aggression.
Vaiśampāyana describes a shift from earlier modes of engagement to close combat: the two heroic opponents come together and begin fighting with their arms, signaling an intensification of the encounter.