Mahabharata 9.32.12 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 32, Shloka 12
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
एकैकेन तु मां यूयं योधयध्वं युधिष्ठिर । न होको बहुभिववीरिर्याय्यो योधयितुं युधि
ekekena tu māṃ yūyaṃ yodhayadhvaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | na hy eko bahubhir vīrair nyāyyo yodhayituṃ yudhi ||
हे युधिष्ठिर! तुम्ही एकेक करून माझ्याशी युद्ध करा. युद्धात अनेक वीरांनी एकाला लढायला भाग पाडणे न्याय्य नाही.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to nyāya (fairness) in warfare: it is unethical to force one fighter to face many at once; proper conduct favors regulated, equitable combat.
Sañjaya reports a challenge addressed to Yudhiṣṭhira: the speaker demands single combat—each opponent should fight individually—rejecting a many-against-one engagement as unjust.
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