Shloka 183
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha
इदं भ्रात्रोर्महायुद्धं पश्य रामेति भारत । भारत! तत्पश्चात् धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरने शत्रुदमन रोहिणीकुमारसे कहा--“बलरामजी! दोनों भाइयोंका यह महान् युद्ध देखिये”
sañjaya uvāca | idaṃ bhrātror mahāyuddhaṃ paśya rāmeti bhārata | bhārata! tatpaścāt dharmaputra yudhiṣṭhirena śatrudamana rohiṇīkumārasya kathitam—“balarāmaji! dvayor bhrātroḥ idaṃ mahad yuddhaṃ paśyata” |
Sanjaya said: “O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), ‘Look, Rama, at this great battle between the two brothers.’” Thereafter, Yudhishthira—the son of Dharma, the tamer of foes—addressed Rohini’s son and said: “Balarama, behold this mighty combat of the two brothers.” The verse frames the duel as a moment to be witnessed with moral gravity: kinship has collapsed into violence, and elders are called to observe the tragic consequence of adharma in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tragedy of fraternal conflict: even those bound by kinship can be driven into destructive combat when dharma is eclipsed. By calling Balarama—an elder and moral witness—to observe, the narrative underscores accountability and the need for discerning judgment amid war.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that a great fight between two brothers is to be seen, and then notes that Yudhishthira addresses Balarama (Rohini’s son), urging him to watch the brothers’ mighty duel.