Shloka 24
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
किमवस्थं तु तत् क्षत्रं ये तु तत्राभवन् नृपा: । श्रुतमेतन्मया पूर्व सर्वमेव तपोधन
kim-avasthaṃ tu tat kṣatraṃ ye tu tatrābhavan nṛpāḥ | śrutam etan mayā pūrvaṃ sarvam eva tapodhana ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “But what became of that warrior order, and of the kings who were present there? I have heard all this before, O treasure of ascetic merit; tell it in full.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical seriousness of Kṣatriya life: actions in war have consequences, and the listener seeks a clear account of outcomes. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on faithful transmission—what is heard and preserved must be narrated completely and responsibly.
Vaiśampāyana, continuing the epic narration, frames a question about the condition and fate of the warrior class and the kings who were present in the described event. He signals that the matter is known through prior hearing and requests a full recounting, moving the story toward a detailed report of what befell them.