Mahabharata 9.32.293 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 32, Shloka 293
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
इदमेकं गदायुद्ध॑ भवत्वद्याद्भुतं महत् । रथके विचित्र युद्ध तो पग-पगपर हुए हैं। आज यह एक अत्यन्त अद्भुत गदायुद्ध भी हो जाय
idam ekaṁ gadāyuddhaṁ bhavatv adyādbhutaṁ mahat |
దుర్యోధనుడు అన్నాడు—“ఈ రోజు ఈ ఒక్క గదాయుద్ధం మహత్తరమైన, అద్భుతమైన సంఘటనగా నిలవాలి. రథాలపై విచిత్ర యుద్ధాలు అడుగడుగునా జరిగాయి; ఈ రోజు ఈ గదాయుద్ధం కూడా పరమాద్భుతంగా జరగాలి.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warriors may aestheticize and glorify violence as “wondrous,” revealing the tension between personal pride and the ethical demands of dharma. It invites reflection on whether seeking fame through combat aligns with righteousness, especially at the war’s tragic culmination.
Duryodhana calls for a single, extraordinary mace-duel to take place that day—setting the stage for the climactic club-fight that will decide his final stand and the war’s outcome.
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