Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
फिर वहाँ राजाओंकी मण्डलीमें अपनी दोनों बाँहें ऊपर उठाकर हलधर बलरामने भयंकर आर्तनाद करते हुए कहा--'भीमसेन! तुम्हें धिक्कार है! धिक्कार है!! ।। अहो धिग् यदधो नाभे: प्रह्तं धर्मविग्रहे नैतद् दृष्टं गदायुद्धे कृतवान् यद् वकोदर:,“अहो! इस धर्मयुद्धमें नाभिसे नीचे जो प्रहार किया गया है और जिसे भीमसेनने स्वयं किया है, यह गदायुद्धमें कभी नहीं देखा गया
sañjaya uvāca | atha tatra rājamaṇḍalīmadhye bāhū samutkṣipya haladharo balarāmo bhīṣaṇam ārta-nādaṁ kṛtvā uvāca— “bhīmasena! tvāṁ dhig astu! dhig astu!! aho dhig yad adho nābheḥ prahṛtaṁ dharma-vigrahe; naitad dṛṣṭaṁ gadā-yuddhe kṛtavān yad vṛkodaraḥ.”
Disse Sañjaya: Então, ali, na assembleia dos reis, Haladhara Balarāma ergueu ambos os braços e, com um terrível brado de angústia, declarou: «Bhīmasena—vergonha sobre ti, vergonha! Ai, vergonha de fato: neste duelo proclamado como justo, foi desferido um golpe abaixo do umbigo. Nunca se viu tal coisa na luta de maças—e, no entanto, foi Vṛkodara quem o fez.»
संजय उवाच
Even in war, a contest publicly framed as dharma-bound is expected to follow agreed rules; violating them (here, striking below the navel in mace-combat) is treated as a moral breach that stains victory with dishonor.
In the presence of the gathered kings, Balarama—an authority on mace-fighting—reacts with anguish and anger, publicly censuring Bhima for delivering a prohibited blow below the navel during the mace duel.