Shloka 10

Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)

Devanagari script

तस्योर्ध्वबाहो: सदृशं रूपमासीन्महात्मन: । बहुधातुविचित्रस्य श्वेतस्येव महागिरे:,ऐसा कहकर महाबली बलराम अपना हल उठाकर भीमसेनकी ओर दौड़े। उस समय अपनी भुजाएँ ऊपर उठाये हुए महात्मा बलरामजीका रूप अनेक धातुओंके कारण विचित्र शोभा पानेवाले महान्‌ श्वेतपर्वतके समान जान पड़ता था

Transliteration

tasyordhvabāhoḥ sadṛśaṃ rūpam āsīn mahātmanaḥ | bahudhātuvicitrasyā śvetasyeva mahāgireḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As that great-souled one stood with his arms raised aloft, his form appeared like a mighty white mountain—made splendidly variegated by many minerals. In the charged moment of impending violence, the image underscores both Balarāma’s overwhelming power and the awe such power inspires, even as it threatens to break the bounds of restraint.

Word by Word

तस्यof him

ऊर्ध्वबाहोःof the one with upraised arms

सदृशम्similar (to)

रूपम्form, appearance

आसीत्was

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

बहुधातुविचित्रस्यof (that) variegated with many minerals

श्वेतस्यof the white (one)

इवlike, as if

महागिरेःof the great mountain

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Balarāma

mahāgiri (great mountain)

dhātu (minerals/metals)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a grand natural simile to highlight how immense power can inspire reverence and fear; implicitly, such power calls for self-restraint so that strength does not become adharmic violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Balarāma at a tense moment: with arms lifted, he appears like a brilliant white mountain streaked with many minerals—an image emphasizing his formidable presence as he moves toward confrontation.