Shloka 24
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुयुद्धं समीयतु:
tatastau naraśārdūlau bāhuyuddhaṃ samīyatuḥ
すると虎のごとき二人の男は、腕力勝負へと間合いを詰めた――正面からの組み討ち、手と手の肉薄戦である。語りは武人の掟を示す。言葉も距離も役に立たぬとき、争いは面と向かって引き受けられ、刹帝利（クシャトリヤ）の作法の範囲で、力と決意、そして節度が試される。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of confronting conflict directly and courageously. By moving into bāhuyuddha (hand-to-hand combat), the narrative emphasizes personal valor and disciplined force—strength governed by warrior duty rather than mere aggression.
Vaiśampāyana describes a shift from earlier modes of engagement to close combat: the two heroic opponents come together and begin fighting with their arms, signaling an intensification of the encounter.