Shloka 9
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
मण्डलावर्तमार्गेषु गदाविहरणेषु च । निर्विशेषम भूद् युद्ध तयो: पुरुषसिंहयो:,मण्डलाकार गतिसे घूमनेमें, भाँति-भाँतिके पैंतरे दिखानेकी कलामें तथा गदाका प्रहार करनेमें उन दोनों पुरुषसिंहोंमें कोई भी अन्तर नहीं दिखायी देता था, दोनों एक-से जान पड़ते थे
maṇḍalāvartamārgeṣu gadāviharaṇeṣu ca | nirviśeṣam abhūd yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ ||
ମଣ୍ଡଳାକାର ଘୁରଣ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଆବର୍ତ୍ତ ମାର୍ଗ, ଗଦାର ଚାଳନା ଓ ପ୍ରହାର କଳା—ଏ ସବୁରେ ସେଇ ଦୁଇ ପୁରୁଷସିଂହଙ୍କ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ନିର୍ବିଶେଷ ଥିଲା; କାହାର ମଧ୍ୟେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠତା ଦେଖାଯାଇଲା ନାହିଁ, ଦୁହେଁ ସମାନ ଲାଗୁଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights parity in martial excellence: true assessment in war requires recognizing when opponents are evenly matched, and that victory is not guaranteed by reputation alone but by moment-to-moment skill, steadiness, and tactical movement.
Sañjaya describes a mace-duel in which the two heroic fighters execute circular footwork and weapon maneuvers with such equal mastery that no difference in their combat ability can be perceived.