Shloka 9
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
समानवीर्यो सम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रगृहीतगदावु भौ । विस्मयं परमं जम्मुर्देवगन्धर्वमानवा:
sa-māna-vīryau samprekṣya pragṛhīta-gadāv ubhau | vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmur deva-gandharva-mānavāḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「勇力等しき二人が、ともにガダーを取り直したのを見て、神々もガンダルヴァも人々も、最大の驚嘆に打たれた。束の間の休止ののち、あの第一の勇者たちは新たな決意をもって決闘を再開した—まるで発情の狂気に酔う二頭の象王が、受け入れる雌象をめぐって争うかのように。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compelling force of kṣatriya valor: even after a pause, warriors of equal strength resume combat with unwavering resolve, and such steadfastness—though violent—evokes awe as a manifestation of heroic duty and indomitable spirit.
Sañjaya reports that two evenly matched mace-fighters, after a brief respite, again grasp their maces and restart the battle; witnessing this, gods, Gandharvas, and humans are filled with intense astonishment.