Shloka 336

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

अद्विसारमयीं गुर्वीमाविध्यन्‌ बह्मशोभत । भीमसेनके द्वारा घुमायी गयी उस गदाको देखकर दुर्योधन भी अपनी लोहमयी भारी गदाको घुमाता हुआ अधिक शोभा पाने लगा

Transliteration

Sañjaya uvāca — advisāramayīṃ gurvīm āvidhyan brahmaśobhata | Bhīmasenena dvārā ghumāyī gayī us gadāko dekhkar Duryodhana bhī apanī lohamayī bhārī gadāko ghumātā huā adhika śobhā pāne lagā ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—భీమసేనుడు వజ్రమయమైనట్లుగా కఠినమైన భారమైన గదను బలంగా తిప్పగా అది ఎంతో శోభించింది. ఆ గదను తిప్పడం చూసి దుర్యోధనుడూ తన ఇనుముతో చేసిన భారమైన గదను తిప్పుతూ మరింత శోభించాడు.

Word by Word

• अद्विसारमयीम्: made of (iron/metal) without flaw; iron-made
• अद्विसारमयीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्विसारमयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गुर्वीम्: heavy
• गुर्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आविध्यन्: swung/whirled
• आविध्यन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बह्मशोभत: shone/appeared splendid
• बह्मशोभत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bhimasena (Bhima)
• Duryodhana
• Gada (mace)
• Iron mace

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how pride and competitive display can drive warriors to escalate conflict. Martial skill becomes entangled with ego—seeking 'greater splendor'—which ethically warns that valor without restraint can deepen violence and obscure dharmic judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a visual moment in the mace-duel atmosphere: Bhima swings a massive, adamant-like mace with impressive brilliance; seeing this, Duryodhana responds by swinging his own heavy iron mace, aiming to match or outshine Bhima’s display.