Shloka 19
अध्याय ९ — दुर्योधनस्य अन्त्यावस्था, विलापः, तथा सौप्तिक-प्रतिवृत्तम्
Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report
आहुस्त्वां राजशार्दूल मुख्य॑ सर्वधनुष्मताम् । धनाध्यक्षोपमं युद्धे शिष्यं संकर्षणस्य च
āhus tvāṁ rājaśārdūla mukhyaṁ sarvadhanuṣmatām | dhanādhyakṣopamaṁ yuddhe śiṣyaṁ saṅkarṣaṇasya ca ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜଶାର୍ଦୂଳ! ଲୋକେ ତୁମକୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଧନୁର୍ଧରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି କହୁଥିଲେ। ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ତୁମେ ଧନାଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷ କୁବେର ସମାନ, ଏବଂ ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍ ସଂକର୍ଷଣ (ବଳରାମ)ଙ୍କ ଶିଷ୍ୟ; ତଥାପି ଭୀମସେନ କିପରି ତୁମ ଉପରେ ପ୍ରହାର କରିବାର ସୁଯୋଗ ପାଇଲା? ହେ ନରେଶ୍ୱର! ତୁମେ ସଦା ବଳବାନ ଓ ଗଦାଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ; ତେବେ ସେ ପାପବୁଦ୍ଧି କିପରି ତୁମକୁ ନିହତ କଲା?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between reputation and outcome: even a warrior famed as the best among archers and trained by the highest authority in mace-fighting can fall when a momentary opening arises. It also shows how grief and partisanship shape moral language—calling the killer “sinful” reflects the speaker’s ethical condemnation rather than a neutral report.
Sañjaya addresses a fallen king/warrior with honorifics, recalling his celebrated prowess—likened to Kubera in splendor and described as a disciple of Saṅkarṣaṇa—then asks how Bhīmasena could have found a chance to strike and kill him despite such strength and expertise in gada-yuddha (mace combat).