Shloka 323
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
उत्थितः स हृदाद् वीर: प्रगृह् महतीं गदाम् | बलराम! जब सब ओरसे कड़वी बातोंद्वारा उसे व्यथित किया जाने लगा, तब वह बलवान् वीर विशाल गदा हाथमें लेकर सरोवरसे उठ खड़ा हुआ
utthitaḥ sa hṛdād vīraḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām | balarāma! yadā sarvato kaṭuvāgbhir vyathito bhavitum ārabdhaḥ, tadā sa balavān vīro viśālāṃ gadāṃ hastena gṛhītvā sarovarād utthāya tiṣṭhatīti |
Sinabi ni Nārada: “Bumangon ang bayani mula sa lawa, tangan ang kanyang malaking gada. O Balarāma, nang ang mapapait na salita mula sa lahat ng panig ay nagsimulang dumurog at manakit sa kanya, tumindig ang makapangyarihang mandirigma mula sa tubig, mahigpit na hawak ang napakalaking pamalo.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of speech: bitter, provocative words can inflame even a strong person and push events toward violence. It implicitly warns that controlling one’s tongue and avoiding taunting speech is part of dharma, especially in tense, martial contexts.
Nārada narrates that a warrior, distressed by harsh remarks coming from all directions, rises from a lake and firmly takes up his great mace—an outward sign that he is ready to respond, and that the situation is escalating toward confrontation.