Shloka 253
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
तत् त्वमादाय युध्यस्व प्रेक्षकास्ते वयं स्थिता: । तुम रणभूमिमें अकेले ही एक-एकके साथ भिड़कर हम सब लोगोंसे युद्ध करना चाहते हो तो ऐसा ही सही। जो हथियार तुम्हें पसंद हो
tat tvam ādāya yudhyasva prekṣakās te vayaṁ sthitāḥ |
ユディシュティラは言った。「ならば、汝の好む武器を取り、戦え。我らはここに立ち、見届けよう。もし汝が我ら全員と戦いたいのなら――戦場で一人ずつ相まみえるというのなら――そのとおりにせよ。好みの武器を選び、順に一人ずつと戦うがよい。我らは証人としてここに留まる。」
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-ethics: courage and readiness to meet a challenge, while also framing combat within agreed terms (weapon-choice and sequential duels), emphasizing honor and regulated warfare rather than chaos.
Yudhiṣṭhira responds to an opponent’s desire to fight multiple warriors by permitting him to take any preferred weapon and face the Pāṇḍavas one at a time, while the others stand by as witnesses/spectators to the duel sequence.