Shloka 22
Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
योधयेयं रणे कृष्ण किमुताद्य सुयोधनम् । जनार्दन! आप सब लोग दर्शक बनकर मेरा युद्ध देखते रहें। श्रीकृष्ण! मैं रणक्षेत्रमें नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र धारण करनेवाले देवताओंसहित तीनों लोकोंके साथ युद्ध कर सकता हूँ; फिर इस सुयोधनकी तो बात ही क्या है? ।। संजय उवाच तथा सम्भाषमाणं तु वासुदेवो वृकोदरम्
sañjaya uvāca | yodhaye'yaṃ raṇe kṛṣṇa kim utādya suyodhanam | janārdana! āpa sab log darśak banakar merā yuddha dekhate raheṃ | śrīkṛṣṇa! maiṃ raṇakṣetremeṃ nānā prakārake astra-śastra dhāraṇa karanevāle devatāoṃ-sahita trīṇi lokāṃke sātha yuddha kara sakatā hūṃ; phira is suyodhanakī to bāta hī kyā hai || sañjaya uvāca tathā sambhāṣamāṇaṃ tu vāsudevo vṛkodaram
Sanjaya said: “O Krishna, I can fight in battle—what then of fighting Suyodhana today? O Janardana, you all may stand as witnesses and watch my combat. O Shri Krishna, I am capable of waging war even against the three worlds together with the gods who wield diverse weapons; how much more, then, against this Suyodhana?” Sanjaya continued: As Bhima spoke in this manner, Vasudeva (Krishna) …
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior’s resolve and the rhetoric of courage: a kshatriya asserts readiness to face even cosmic opposition, framing the coming duel as morally and psychologically decisive. It also underscores the role of witnesses—public accountability and the gravity of vows in dharma-yuddha.
In Shalya Parva, as the climactic confrontation approaches, Bhima (Vrikodara) speaks boldly to Krishna, declaring that he can fight even the gods and the three worlds—therefore Duryodhana is no match. Sanjaya reports this speech and transitions to Krishna’s response.