Shloka 16
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
भरतनन्दन! वीर भीमसेन भाँति-भाँतिके मार्गों और मण्डलोंका प्रदर्शन करते हुए पुनः बड़ी शोभा पाने लगे ।।
bharatanandana! vīro bhīmasenaḥ bhānti-bhāntike mārgān maṇḍalāni ca pradarśayan punaḥ mahāśobhayā śuśubhe. tau parasparam āsādya yattāv anyonya-rakṣaṇe, mārjārāv iva bhakṣārthaṃ tata-kṣāte muhur muhuḥ.
サンジャヤは言った。「おおバーラタの末裔よ。勇士ビーマセーナは、さまざまな進退の路と円環の機動を示し、再び大いなる光彩を放った。二人の戦士は互いに迫り合い、相手から身を守ろうと努めつつ、餌の一片を争う二匹の猫のように、打っては返し、返しては打つことを幾度も繰り返した。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in war: even great heroes must balance prowess with self-protection. The cat-simile underscores how fierce conflict can reduce opponents to instinctive struggle over a ‘prize,’ reminding the listener that unchecked rivalry and attachment to gain can make combat brutal and repetitive.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma’s impressive battlefield movement—varied paths and circular turns—after which the two fighters close in. They repeatedly exchange blows while each tries to defend himself, likened to two cats quarrelling over a morsel.