Shloka 39
Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ
Commencement of the Regulated Duel
स्वस्त्यस्तु कुशलं राजन्निति तत्र व्यवस्थिता: । त॑ नृप॑ नृपशार्दूल प्रेक्षमाणा: परस्परम्,भरतवंशशिरोमणे! शत्रुओंका नाश करनेवाले वे सभी नरश्रेष्ठ राजा जरासंधको देखते ही इस प्रकार बोले--“महाराज! आपका कल्याण हो।” जनमेजय! ऐसा कहकर वे तीनों खड़े हो गये तथा कभी राजा जरासंधको और कभी आपसमें एक दूसरेको देखने लगे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — svasty astu kuśalaṃ rājann iti tatra vyavasthitāḥ | te nṛpa nṛpaśārdūla prekṣamāṇāḥ parasparam, bharatavaṃśaśiromaṇe |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Berdiri di situ, mereka menyapa raja dengan restu yang sopan, “Semoga sejahtera, wahai Raja!” Lalu tiga insan utama itu, teguh pada maksudnya, bangkit—dan, wahai harimau di antara raja-raja, permata puncak keturunan Bharata—mereka memandang kini kepada Raja Jarāsandha dan kini sesama mereka, seolah-olah diam-diam menimbang langkah seterusnya dalam pertembungan yang tegang antara dharma dan siasah.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in moments charged with rivalry and impending conflict, dharmic conduct begins with restraint and proper speech: the formal blessing to the king models royal etiquette and self-control, signaling that political aims should be pursued without abandoning civility.
After greeting the king with an auspicious benediction, the visitors rise and exchange glances—alternating between looking at Jarāsandha and at each other—indicating a tense, strategic pause before the next move in their encounter.