Shloka 13
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha
पश्य युद्ध महाबाहो इति ते राममत्रुवन् । एवमूचुर्महात्मानं रौहिणेयं नराधिपा:,वे सब नरेश सब ओरसे स्वागतपूर्वक समादर करके वहाँ महात्मा रोहिणीपुत्र बलरामजीसे बोले--“महाबाहो! युद्ध देखिये”
paśya yuddha mahābāho iti te rāmam abruvan | evam ūcur mahātmānaṃ rauhiṇeyaṃ narādhipāḥ ||
നരാധിപന്മാർ മഹാത്മാവായ റൗഹിണേയൻ ബലരാമനോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“മഹാബാഹോ! യുദ്ധം കാണുക.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social honor and moral authority are invoked in wartime: rulers seek the presence and approval of a respected elder (Balarāma) as a witness, suggesting that even violent action is framed within codes of status, propriety, and perceived legitimacy.
Sañjaya reports that the assembled kings respectfully welcome Balarāma (Rauhiṇeya) and invite him to watch the battle, addressing him as “mighty-armed,” indicating his stature and the importance they attach to his presence.