Shloka 21
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
वज्चयानौ पुनश्चैव चेरतु: कुरुसत्तमौ । विक्रीडन्ती सुबलिनौ मण्डलानि विचेरतु:,कुरुकुलके वे दोनों श्रेष्ठ और बलवान वीर विपक्षीको चकमा देते हुए बारंबार युद्धके खेल दिखाते तथा पैंतरे बदलते थे
vajrācayānau punaś caiva ceratuḥ kurusattamau | vikrīḍantau subalinau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。クル族の最上の勇士二人は、幾度も身を運び、戦いの中で輪を描いて回った。強く敏捷な彼らは、陰惨な遊戯のごとく戦い—虚を衝き、構えを変え、戦の円環を踏んで相手を出し抜こうとした。この偈は武人の技を讃える。規律ある足運びと戦術的な欺きが、戦場の掟のうちに行われていたのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that warfare, when undertaken by kṣatriyas, is not mere violence but a disciplined craft governed by training and accepted battlefield conventions—movement, feints, and tactical circling. It implicitly points to responsibility: skill and strength must operate within dharma rather than devolving into uncontrolled brutality.
Sañjaya describes two leading Kuru champions continuing their duel. They repeatedly circle and maneuver, using feints and changing positions—like a deadly ‘game’—to gain advantage over each other in the ongoing battle.