Shloka 13
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
आविद्धयतो गदां तस्य भीमसेनस्य संयुगे । शब्द: सुतुमुलो घोरो मुहूर्त समपद्यत,राजन्! उस समय युद्धस्थलमें जब भीमसेन अपनी गदा घुमाने लगे, तब दर्शकोंने देखा, उनकी भारी गदा यमदण्डके समान भयंकर है। वह इन्द्रके वज़के समान ऊपर उठी हुई है और शत्रुको छिन्न-भिन्न कर डालनेमें समर्थ है। गदा घुमाते समय उसकी घोर एवं भयानक आवाज वहाँ दो घड़ीतक गूँजती रही
āviddhyato gadāṁ tasya bhīmasenasya saṁyuge | śabdaḥ sutumulo ghoro muhūrtaṁ samapadyata, rājan |
సంజయుడు పలికెను—ఓ రాజా! సమరంలో భీమసేనుడు గదను తిప్పగానే అత్యంత ఘోరమైన, ప్రబలమైన శబ్దము లేచి కొంతసేపు ప్రతిధ్వనించెను.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power in war is not only physical but psychological: the terrifying sound of Bhīma’s whirling mace signals overwhelming force and shakes enemy morale. It also reflects Sañjaya’s role as a truthful reporter, conveying the gravity of violence without celebrating it as a moral good.
During the battle, Bhīmasena begins to whirl his mace. The motion produces an extremely loud, dreadful roar that persists for a short time, indicating the ferocity of the combat and the imminent danger to those facing him.