Shloka 9
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
समानवीर्यो सम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रगृहीतगदावु भौ । विस्मयं परमं जम्मुर्देवगन्धर्वमानवा:,उन समान बलशाली महापराक्रमी नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंने विश्राम करके पुनः हाथमें गदा ले ली और मैथुनकी इच्छावाली हथिनीके लिये लड़नेवाले दो बलवान एवं मदोन्मत्त गजराजोंके समान पुनः युद्ध आरम्भ कर दिया है, यह देखकर देवता, गन्धर्व और मनुष्य सभी अत्यन्त आश्चर्यसे चकित हो उठे
sa-māna-vīryau samprekṣya pragṛhīta-gadāv ubhau | vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmur deva-gandharva-mānavāḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Vendo os dois, de igual valentia, ambos com as maças novamente em punho, deuses, Gandharvas e homens foram tomados pelo mais alto assombro. Após uma breve pausa, aqueles heróis eminentes retomaram o duelo com renovada determinação, como dois poderosos elefantes-reis, embriagados pelo cio, lutando por uma elefanta receptiva.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compelling force of kṣatriya valor: even after a pause, warriors of equal strength resume combat with unwavering resolve, and such steadfastness—though violent—evokes awe as a manifestation of heroic duty and indomitable spirit.
Sañjaya reports that two evenly matched mace-fighters, after a brief respite, again grasp their maces and restart the battle; witnessing this, gods, Gandharvas, and humans are filled with intense astonishment.