Shloka 3
Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
संजय उवाच शिरस्यभिह्ठतं दृष्टवा भीमसेनेन ते सुतम् । राम: प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठक्षुक्रोध बलवदूबली
sañjaya uvāca | śirasy abhiṣṭhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena te sutam | rāmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ krodhaṃ balavad ābabhau ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— “ರಾಜನೇ! ಭೀಮಸೇನನು ನಿನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರನ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಪ್ರಹಾರ ಮಾಡಿದುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಪ್ರಹಾರಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ ಮಹಾಬಲ ಬಲರಾಮನನ್ನು ಭಾರೀ ಕ್ರೋಧ ಆವರಿಸಿತು.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical volatility of war: when a warrior’s action is seen as crossing the bounds of honorable conduct, it can provoke righteous indignation and escalate conflict. Even revered elders like Balarama respond strongly when they perceive a breach of martial propriety.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Bhimasena has struck/trampled Dhritarashtra’s son (Duryodhana) on the head. Witnessing this, Balarama—renowned as a supreme fighter—becomes intensely angry.