Mahabharata 3.21.21 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 21
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
बलदेवमुखा: सर्व इति मे निश्चिता मति: । सो&हं सर्वविनाशं त॑ं चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहु: । अविद्दलो महाराज पुन: शाल्वमयोधयम्
baladevamukhāḥ sarva iti me niścitā matiḥ | so 'haṃ sarvavināśaṃ taṃ cintayāno muhur muhuḥ | aviddalo mahārāja punaḥ śālvam ayodhayam |
‘ಬಲದೇವನಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ನಾಶಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ’ ಎಂಬುದು ನನ್ನ ದೃಢ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಯಿತು. ಆ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ವಿನಾಶವನ್ನು ಮರುಮರು ಚಿಂತಿಸುತ್ತ ನಾನು ಪುನಃಪುನಃ ಶೋಕದಿಂದ ಆವರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟೆನು; ಆದರೂ, ಮಹಾರಾಜ! ಅಚಲವಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಮತ್ತೆ ರಾಜ ಶಾಲ್ವನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಯುದ್ಧ ಮಾಡಿದೆನು.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when the mind is struck by repeated thoughts of loss, one can uphold steadiness (aviddalaḥ) and continue one’s duty—here, the warrior’s resolve to face the enemy despite grief.
Vāyu reports that he became convinced that the leading heroes—beginning with Balarāma—had perished. Though he kept brooding on this ‘total destruction,’ he did not collapse in spirit and returned to fight King Śālva again.
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