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Shloka 663

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

अथवा फाल्‍्गुनेनाद्य त्वया वा भरतर्षभ । “भरतश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हारे भाइयोंमेंसे कोई एक मेरे साथ गदाद्वारा युद्ध करे। मैं सहदेव, नकुल, भीमसेन, अर्जुन अथवा स्वयं तुमसे भी युद्ध कर सकता हूँ

sañjaya uvāca | athavā phālgunenādya tvayā vā bharatarṣabha |

サञ्जयは言った。「『さもなくば、バーラタ族の雄牛よ、今日はファールグナ(アルジュナ)か――あるいは汝自身が相手となれ。バーラタの最勝者よ、汝の兄弟のうち誰か一人、ガダーで我と戦え。サハデーヴァ、ナクーラ、ビーマセーナ、アルジュナ、さらには汝自身とも戦うことができる』と。」

अथवाor else
अथवा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथवा
फाल्गुनेनby/with Phalguna (Arjuna)
फाल्गुनेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootफाल्गुन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अद्यtoday/now
अद्य:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअद्य
त्वयाby you/with you
त्वया:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas
भरतर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Arjuna (Phālguna)
S
Sahadeva
N
Nakula
B
Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
B
Bharata lineage (Bharatarṣabha/Bharataśreṣṭha)
G
gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights the kṣatriya ethos of facing a worthy opponent directly and accepting single combat as a test of valor and legitimacy. It also shows how speech in war—challenge, intimidation, and naming opponents—functions as a moral-psychological weapon, pressing the other side to respond according to honor and duty.

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s open challenge to the Pāṇḍava side: he invites any one of the brothers to fight him with the mace, explicitly naming Sahadeva, Nakula, Bhīma, Arjuna (Phālguna), or even the addressed leader himself. The moment frames an impending duel and escalates the confrontation by calling for a decisive, personal contest.