Mahabharata 9.57.44 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 57, Shloka 44
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
आजजनेने मूर्थ्नि कौन्तेयं गदया भीमवेगया । तत्पश्चात् राजा दुर्योधनने अपने मनमें दृढ़ निश्चय लेकर बायें मण्डलसे चक्कर लगाते हुए अपनी भयंकर वेगशाली गदासे कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेनके मस्तकपर प्रहार किया ।।
tataḥ paścāt rājā duryodhanaḥ manasi dṛḍha-niścayaṃ kṛtvā vāma-maṇḍalena parivartamānaḥ svayā bhīma-vegayā bhīṣaṇa-vegayā gadayā kuntī-putraṃ bhīmasenaṃ mūrdhni prāharat | tayā tv abhihato bhīmaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ tava putreṇa ||
ನಂತರ ರಾಜ ದುರ್ಯೋಧನನು ದೃಢನಿಶ್ಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಎಡಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಮಂಡಲವಾಗಿ ತಿರುಗಿ, ಭಯಂಕರ ವೇಗದಿಂದ ಚಲಿಸಿದ ತನ್ನ ಗದೆಯಿಂದ ಕುಂತೀಪುತ್ರ ಭೀಮಸೇನನ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊಡೆದನು। ಆ ಗದಾಪ್ರಹಾರದಿಂದ ನಿನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರನು ಪಾಂಡವ ಭೀಮನನ್ನು ಗಾಯಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior ethic of determination and tactical skill in combat, while also reminding the reader that even valorous technique culminates in severe harm—raising implicit reflection on the moral weight of war (dharma in conflict).
During the climactic mace duel, Duryodhana, after circling with a leftward maneuver, delivers a powerful mace-blow to Bhima’s head; Sanjaya reports this directly to Dhritarashtra, emphasizing that the strike is made by Dhritarashtra’s son.
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