Shloka 16
द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः
वे शल्य और भीमसेन दोनों गदारूप सींगोंको घुमा-घुमाकर साँड़ोंकी भाँति गरजते हुए पैंतरे बदल रहे थे ।। मण्डलावर्तमार्गेषु गदाविहरणेषु च । निर्विशेषम भूद् युद्ध तयो: पुरुषसिंहयो:,मण्डलाकार घूमनेके मार्गों (पैंतरों) और गदाके प्रहारोंमें उन दोनों पुरुषसिंहोंकी योग्यता एक-सी जान पड़ती थी
sañjaya uvāca | śalyaś ca bhīmasenaś ca gadārūpau śṛṅgau parivartya vṛṣabhāv iva nadantaḥ pādāni vinyasyantaḥ paryāyān parivartayām āsuḥ | maṇḍalāvartamārgeṣu gadāviharaṇeṣu ca nirviśeṣam abhūd yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—शल्यो भीमसेनश्चोभौ गदाभ्यां शृङ्गिणाविव वृषभौ शृङ्गाणि परिघूर्णयन्तौ नर्दन्तौ पैंतरे परिवर्तयामासतुः। मण्डलावर्तमार्गेषु गदाविहरणेषु च तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः युद्धं निर्विशेषमिवाभवत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in the immediacy of battle, victory can hinge on matched skill and tactical movement rather than on moral claims alone; it invites reflection on how dharma must be upheld through discipline and restraint even when the contest appears evenly balanced.
Sanjaya describes Śalya and Bhīma engaged in a mace duel: they roar like bulls, circle with practiced footwork, and exchange mace techniques so evenly that neither seems superior in maneuvering or weapon-handling.