Shloka 12
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
एकैकेन तु मां यूयं योधयध्वं युधिष्ठिर । न होको बहुभिववीरिर्याय्यो योधयितुं युधि,'युधिष्ठि! तुमलोग एक-एक करके मुझसे युद्ध करो। युद्धमें बहुत-से वीरोंके साथ किसी एकको लड़नेके लिये विवश करना न्यायोचित नहीं है
ekekena tu māṃ yūyaṃ yodhayadhvaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | na hy eko bahubhir vīrair nyāyyo yodhayituṃ yudhi ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, biarlah kamu bertarung denganku seorang demi seorang. Dalam perang, tidak adil memaksa seorang pahlawan bertempur melawan ramai wira sekaligus.”
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.